Fighter kite facts for kids
Fighter kites are special kites used for a fun sport called kite fighting. These kites are usually small and flat. They are controlled by a single line. Part of this line is often called manja. Manja is a strong string, often coated with crushed glass. This helps to cut the lines of other kites during a fight.
Kite fighting is a popular sport in many countries. Some of these include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, Chile, and Brazil.
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What Are Fighter Kites Made Of?
Most traditional fighter kites are made from lightweight, thin paper. Their frames are usually built with light and flexible wood, like bamboo.
Modern fighter kites, especially in America, use different materials. Their skins might be made from synthetic materials like mylar or nylon. The main stick (spine) can still be bamboo. But often, parts are made from fiberglass or carbon fiber.
The Special Line
For many Asian fighter kites, the line is made of thin cotton or hemp. This line is then coated with a mix of finely crushed glass and rice glue. This makes the line very sharp. Today, people also use strong synthetic lines with different rough coatings. Some cultures even attach small metal blades to the line to help cut opponents' kites.
People often make their own special paste to make their lines stronger. This paste usually includes glue and crushed glass. Other things can be added to make the line even better.
In some competitions, a strong fishing line is used. This line is very strong for its size and doesn't stretch much.
How Kites Are Set Up and Tuned
The way a kite is set up, or "tuned," is very important. This includes where the strings (bridle) are attached and how the kite's frame is shaped. These things affect how the kite moves and spins in the air.
Afghan and Indian fighter kites have their bridles attached in two spots on the main stick (spine). The top string connects near the middle of the kite. The bottom string connects further down the spine. The length of these strings helps control the kite.
The spine of the kite usually has a slight curve. To make the kite spin more, the top bridle line is made shorter. To make it spin less, the bottom line is shortened. If you want the kite to turn left or right, you can add a small weight to one wing. Or you can make the frame on that side a bit weaker.
The kite's design also matters a lot. Some kites are naturally better at spinning or handling strong winds. Tuning only works if the kite is right for the wind. If the wind is too strong, the kite might get bent out of shape. In India, where kites are cheap, people sometimes burn small holes in the kite to help it fly in very strong winds.
How Kite Fighting Works
When a kite is flying with a tight line, the wind pushes on it. This makes the kite stable. But if you loosen the line, the kite becomes wobbly. It might rock side to side or even spin. By pulling the line tight again at the right moment, you can make the kite move exactly where you want it to go.
Kite flyers use a special spool to quickly let out or pull in the line. Often, the flyer holds the line directly, not the spool. Friends or helpers manage the extra line between the flyer and the spool.
Line Cutting Contests
Many fighter kites use a very sharp, abrasive line called manja. To protect their hands, flyers often use a regular string at their end of the line. Competition rules can be different in various places. Usually, two or more people fly their kites. The goal is to cut the opponent's line. The person who cuts the other's line wins that round. In games with many kites, the last kite flying wins.
There are two main ways to cut a line with an abrasive string:
- Release cutting: Once the lines touch, both players let out their lines until one is cut.
- Pull cutting: The flyer quickly pulls their line in.
Winning depends on many things. These include the flyer's skill, the kite's size, speed, and strength. The quality and sharpness of the line, the spool, and the wind conditions are also very important.
Most contests are informal games between neighbors. But there are also organized events. For example, the "Red Bull Kite Fight" has been held in cities across North India since 2015.
Capturing Kites
In some contests, players try to capture their opponent's kite and bring it to the ground. The person or team who does this wins. Skilled kite fighters can cut an opponent's line. Then, they try to catch the loose line of the cut kite. Once they have it, they can fly both kites and claim the captured kite as a prize. If a cut kite isn't captured, it belongs to no one. Then, "kite runners," often younger children, chase after it to claim it.
Fighter Kites Around the World
Different countries have their own styles of kites, rules for fighting, and traditions. Many places have a special "kite season" or festival.
Afghanistan
Kites in Afghanistan range from about 0.5 to 1.5 meters wide. The sport is called gudiparan bazi. The cutting line is called tar. Like in other places, the line is traditionally cotton with crushed glass and rice glue. But now, nylon string with stronger glue is often used. Kites can fly very high, sometimes up to 3,500 meters!
From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban government in Afghanistan banned kite flying. They said it was "un-Islamic." But after the government fell, kite fighting returned.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, especially in South Dhaka, people enjoy kite fighting during the Shakrain festival. They often fly kites from rooftops. This festival happens on the last day of the Poush month.
Brazil
In Brazil, kite fighting is a very popular hobby for children, teenagers, and young adults, especially boys and men. Like in other countries, people can get hurt. Motorcyclists, for example, need to be careful. The traditional Brazilian kite, called a "pipa," has a five-sided shape. But simple diamond-shaped kites are also common.
Caribbean
Most Caribbean kites are six-sided and flown with a tail. Instead of using glass-coated lines, they often attach sharp objects like razor blades to their tails. They try to "koule" (which means "drop" in Haitian Creole) other kites.
Kite fighting has been seen in places like Haiti, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, and Suriname.
Chile
The common kite in Chile is called a Volatín. They are roughly square and made with light paper and bamboo sticks. Unlike other square fighter kites, the Chilean volantín uses three support strings for easier and more stable flying. A long tail is sometimes added for decoration or celebrations.
Chilean volantín kites come in different sizes. The smallest is ñecla, and the largest is pavo. For fighting, the medio pavo (mid-size) is most popular. It offers a good balance of speed, strength, and accuracy.
People usually start kite fighting in September when the spring winds arrive. Clubs and groups often hold tournaments during the drier summer months.
Chilean kite fighters use a large reel called a carrete to hold and control the abrasive line. They also use wooden sticks to handle the carrete. This way, a skilled flyer might never touch the sharp line with their hands. Since the mid-2000s, this style of kite fighting has spread to other parts of Latin America and Europe.
India
Fighter kites are known as patang in India. Kite flying is very popular during specific festivals. These include the spring festival called Basant, during Makar Sankranti, and more recently on Indian Independence Day.
Japan
The Nagasaki Hata kite is similar to the Indian Patang. It is thought to have come to Japan from Indonesia through Dutch traders. It is very easy to control and is used in line-cutting contests with glass-coated lines, much like in other countries.
Another type of kite fighting in Japan uses very large kites that need teams of people to fly them. In these contests, lines are not cut. Instead, kites are forced down. These festivals happen in Shirone and Hamamatsu. The Rokkaku is a smaller, hexagonal kite, about 1-2 meters tall. It is also flown by teams. Both the Rokkaku and the smaller Buka kites have become popular with kite fans in Western countries.
Korea
The Korean fighter kite, called the bang-pae yeon, is a rectangular "shield" kite. It has a hole in the middle of its sail. Its frame uses five bamboo sticks.
Korean kite fighting uses cutting lines and is similar to other Asian fighter kites. A large spool is always used to control the line.
Nepal
Kite fighting in Nepal is very active during the Dashain festival. The sky fills with colorful kites called changas. These are made from special Nepali paper. The line used is coated in crushed glass to cut the lines of other kites. When a line is cut, the winning team shouts "chet" to celebrate their victory!
Pakistan
Kite fighting is common all over Pakistan. It is especially popular in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Karachi, and Islamabad. Lahore is often called the capital of kite battling in South Asia. Kite flying is a big part of Lahore's culture. In the past, kite battling was a sport, and flyers were called "Khilari" or sportsmen.
The kites made for battling are very different from regular kites. They are specially designed for fighting. Each kite has unique features for battling, making them special. Historically, the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who lived in Lahore, built strong brick walls and 12 gates around the city. One gate, the "Moochi Darwaza," is a famous place to buy kite flying materials. Kites like Kup, Patang, Guda, and Tukal are used. They differ in how they balance, weigh, and move through the air.
Kite flying is currently banned in some parts of Pakistan. This is because some kite flyers use strings coated with glass or metal shards. This can cause injuries and even deaths.
Special glues, chemicals, and crushed glass are used to make threads for kite battling. These threads are ranked by how well they can cut other threads and handle the kite's weight. Kite flying is a big social event in Pakistan that happens once a year.
Basant in Lahore
The city of Lahore is famous for its Basant or Spring Festival. People from all over Pakistan and many from India come to Lahore each year to celebrate this two-day festival. It usually takes place on the last weekend of February or March. The festival starts on Saturday night. People fly white kites, have parties, and play loud music on their rooftops all night until morning. White kites shimmer in the night sky. Flyers have "paich" duels, where they tangle their lines and try to cut each other's. When a line is cut, the winner shouts "wo kaataa"! Every win is celebrated with Bhangra Dance and traditional drumming.
United States
Different fighter kites from around the world are shown at large kite festivals in the United States. These include the Korean shield kite, Japanese Rokkaku, and Brazilian Pipas.
Kite fighters in the United States use many new and creative kites. They use different designs and materials for "line touch" and skill competitions. You can see fighter kites flying at many kite festivals across the country. A big championship competition happens every year at the American Kitefliers Association convention.
Problems with Kite Flying
Environmental Issues
Kite strings left after a fight can get stuck in tall trees. They can stay there for a long time, making parks and wild areas look messy. This can spoil the natural beauty for other people enjoying the outdoors.
The sharpened kite strings are especially dangerous for birds. The strings can easily cut through their muscles and bones. Even with good medical care, birds can take many weeks to get better. Sometimes, stray animals also get tangled and hurt by kite lines that fall closer to the ground.
Types of Fighter Kites
- Benang Gelasan (Indonesia Fighter's Kite Threads)
- Layangan Aduan (Indonesia)
- Layangan Palembang (Palembang – Indonesia)
- Lokta Changa (Nepal)
- Indian Fighter Kite (India) (also known as a Patang)
- Pakistani Fighter Kite (Pakistan) (also known as a Patang)
- Tukkal (Pakistan and India)
- Do Pana (Pakistan)
- Gum Pana (Pakistan)
- Shistru (Pakistan)
- Teera (Pakistan)
- Kupp (Pakistan)
- Salara (Pakistan)
- Kashti (Pakistan)
- Suit (Pakistan)
- Gulair (Pakistan)
- Do Akkhal (Pakistan)
- Piyala (Pakistan)
- Macchar (Pakistan)
- Farfarata (Pakistan)
- Hata (Japan)
- Rokkaku (Japan)
- Afghan Fighter Kite (Afghanistan)
- Shield Kite (Korea)
- Chula and Pakpao (Thailand)
- American Fighter Kite (United States and Canada)
- Pipas (Brazil)
- Volantines (Chile)
