Soaring inflation takes wind out of kite sales

Inflation, which has created a dent in most businesses, hasn't spared the kite manufacturing industry as well.

With just a day to go for Uttarayan, kite makers in the city are worried about sales this year. Shortage of labour, police regulations to shut shop by 11 pm and rising costs of raw materials used have slashed business by almost 50%.

According to Sahraz Sheikh, a kite seller at Delhi Darwaza, there is 25% rise in costs of kites this year. "Kites which were being sold for Rs50 last year, cost Rs75 this time around," said Sheikh. He attributes this rise in prices to costlier paper and fewer kite makers in Ahmedabad. "Wholesalers are bringing kites from Ramnagar and Rampur (in Gujarat) and selling them here, leading to rise in prices," added Sheikh.

Demand, too, hasn't been as buoyant as they were earlier. "People who used to buy five kites, are buying only two now," said Sheikh.

Costs of thread and sticks to frame kites are soaring as well. There has been a 30% rise in prices of threads while labour troubles have reduced supply of sticks. Milesh Patel, a kite shop-owner at Delhi Darwaza, informed that these sticks come from West Bengal. "Sticks are expensive due to shortage in labour. Kite-cutting, that used to happen in Kalupur, has also stopped," said Patel. While most sellers have increased costs, Patel has reduced prices to avoid heavy loss. "I used to sell one bundle for Rs2,200, now I do so at Rs1,700."

Threads are also being sold for double the prices as sold last year. "Demand for the thread has fallen by 50%. The powder we used to colour these strings with are selling at Rs25, from an earlier Rs10," said Maqsoodbhai, another kite-maker. Police restrictions to close shop at 11 pm are adding to the woes of this industry. These shops could be open till two last year.