Colourful kites dot Jaipur skyline

Jaipur, Jan 12 (PTI) Kites in different hues blaze a riotof colours across the sky here as the Pink city is gearing upfor Makar Sakranti, a harvest festival.

Though the price bug has hit the festival with the costof kites increasing by 30-50 per cent this season as comparedto last year, it failed to dampen the enthusiasm of flyers.

"The season is good this time and youngsters are enjoyingkite flying as schools are closed for a week due to cold andthey have enough time. Sales always increase in the last fewdays and markets would now be crowded even at night hours,"says Babu Bhai, a kite trader.

Children are seen on roof busy in kite flying.

"We have bought many kites and enjoying flying them,"says Shreyansh, a class-V student.

A kite of average quality is now available for Rs 3,which used to be around Rs 1 or 2.

Vendors are doing brisk business with the marketsflooding with permanent and make-shift kite shops.

"This year, I bought the stock two times as the seasonis better than that of the last year. Rates are quite highthis time but its impact is not so high," Prakash Verma, aretailer at Tonk road locality, said.

However, many vendors are passing locally manufacturedkites and threads as ''Bareli made'', which have always been inhigh demand due to unmatched quality.

"Several manufacturers are doing this malpractice but oneone can differentiate Bareli and local kites with the qualityof paper, sticks and make," a kite trader says.

"Many part time workers engaged in gem stone work havestarted selling kites to make extra money and for that theyare stamping local kites as ''Bareli made''," he says.

Shops in various markets including Handipura, HaldiyaonKa Rasta, Kishanpol Bazar and several other streets in thewalled city have been decorated with colourful kites ofdifferent shapes and sizes, and are full of stock to make ofmost of the season.

Handipura is the main hub of kite trade in the city and alarge number of families there is engaged in kite manufacture.