New Delhi: Kite flying has been an integral part of India's Independence Day celebrations but dealers in the national capital are not too enthusiastic about the sales this year.
The threat of terrorist activities looming large on the capital during Independence Day celebrations has brought the sale of kites crashing down.
"This year we have managed to do only 50 percent of the business," a wholesale kite dealer in Sadar Bazaar, Amit Raj said.
"The newspapers and television channels keep showing that terrorists might target Delhi so people avoid coming to these busy markets," he added.
Similar was the reaction from another dealer Om Prakash who said in the past they were able to sell kites at three times the actual prices.
"A normal kite costs around 50 paise but during peak we used to sell them for Rs 1.50 to Rs 2," he said.
Strict security measures in market areas by Delhi Police have also made matters worse for the kite sellers.
"These policemen are making people alert on possible terrorist threats. So people are avoiding these places," Prakash said.
One variety, however, is in demand because of its designs. Popularly called Chinese kites, they have dragons, owls, butterflies and gliders imprinted on them.
"There is nothing Chinese about them," another wholesale kite dealer in Sadar Bazaar, Saifian Ahmed added.
"Not many people buy them because they are very expensive." Each of these kites is sold between Rs 40 and Rs 200.
"We get them all from small towns in Uttar Pradesh. The only difference is their manufacturing and also they are a little more expensive," he added.
Most of these kites are prepared in the cities of Barelli, Kanpur, Rampur and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh.
"Kites made in Barelli are the best," said Prakash.
"The Chinese kites are made from a special cloth with the supporting sticks made of plastic."
"Since we do not make these kites in Delhi we place our orders in advance to the manufacturers in Barelli," said Prakash, who has been in the business for the past 12 years.
Ahmed said there are lean sales in other wholesale markets as well.
"My relatives have two shops in Lal Kuan area but business there also is very dull."
"There is a reason for the people to be afraid because terrorists had targeted Sadar Bazaar in the past. This area is also very crowded during the day," he added.
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