Independence Day celebrations are synonymous with kite-flying competitions in this parts of the national Capital, with Red Fort and Jama Masjid in the background, giving an air of supremacy to all 'Patangbaaz'.
On the morning of Independence Day, as one takes a walk in the narrow, but quieter-than-usual streets of Chawri Bazaar towards the Main Bazaar road where the beautiful Jama Masjid stands tall, one can see hundreds of colourful kites in the sky, can hear shouts of 'Aibo' from terraces, and can also smell the famous sweetmeat 'Nagori-Halwa'.
Independence Day celebrations are synonymous with kite-flying competitions in this parts of the national Capital, with Red Fort and Jama Masjid in the background, giving an air of supremacy to all 'Patangbaaz'. There are kite-flying parties happening on every terrace with entire clans cheering for their contestant.
Seven-year-old Rehmat has been running around the lanes of the Bazaar since six in the morning collecting kites. He runs in the direction every time he hears 'Aibo' from a terrace. Till around noon time, he has collected nine kites --- six purple coloured, two green coloured and one special 'tricolor' kite. The son of a daily wager, he has been collecting kites for a few days to make sure he has enough on the Independence Day evening special kite-flying competition.
For Old Delhi, kite flying is a royal event. From Akbar to Bahadur Shah Zafar, many of the Mughal emperors used to fly kites on the banks of Yamuna, every time they became agitated or needed to think.
This Wednesday, one could see families on each terrace with Bollywood songs playing in the background, flags hoisted on every wall and colorful kites floating in the sky. The Walled City truly came alive and together to celebrate their favourite festival- their Azaadi.
"My children have been making me run to the shops every other day since the past month for stocking up of kites and manja (thread) rolls. There is so much excitement as their cousins from Uttar Pradesh are coming here to celebrate with them," says Akhlaq, a local restaurant owner at Matiya Mahal, Chandni Chowk. "We are making sure that we stay away from Chinese thread as it has caused problems and killed birds in the past," he added.
Akhlaq's sisters arrived two days ago from Amroha with their children and the entire house has been preparing delicacies since morning. The children fly kites on the terraces and the family is looking forward to going upstairs in the evening when they will cheer for them and eat together. The harsh sunlight has not deterred the cousins to cut some neighboring kites.
Shahjahanabad confirms that despite the changes in culture, the nostalgia associated with kite flying on August 15 will always remain alive among true Delhiites.
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 "Kite Flying")
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