Kite sales plummed in Hyderabad, following bad weather

Hyderabad, Jan 12 (ANI): The kite sellers in Hyderabad are lamenting the fall in sales ahead of the Makar Sakranti festival, to rains and the turmoil created over the demand for a separate Telangana state.

The shops though decked with colourful kites of various shapes and sizes, but have failed to make considerable impact on the sales.

"Sales are going down and this year it was even worse, there were rains and political situation in the state over the demand for Telangana state has resulted in fall in sales. People are buying just half of what they usually bought," said Hyder, a shopkeeper.

"We are not even able to pay for the raw materials, we have to bear the transportation cost, the electricity bills, we are somehow managing it," said Muhammad Rasool, a kite trader.

The sale of kites, hugely popular with children and adults alike, usually picks up during the Makar Sakranti festival, which is a harvest festival that is celebrated in an extravagant way in Andhra Pradesh for over three days.

On all the three days, people dress themselves up in new clothes and indulge in different activities. The festival is an amalgamation of religion and culture of Andhra Pradesh, which gives the entire state, a magical feel. (ANI)