Kite-Makers of Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Jamalpur, Kalupur and Allahnagar, a settlement in Danilimda, are the hub of kite-making in the city of Ahmedabad with another big kite-making cluster being in Nadiad’s Saloon Bazar. With orders through the year though they peak at the celebration of Makar Sankranti.

A kite is made in seven stages — starting from paper selection, to size cutting, printing symbols or designs, sticking the mast and bow, and attaching tails of two types from the frilly ‘ghesia’ or triangular ‘pawla’. Each part is fixed by different groups or families with their own individual specialisations.

Now used as a marketing tool kites with advertisements and slogans printed on them are popular with political parties and corporates.