When US President Barack Obama met our Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Republic Day visit to India last year, no one would have thought that this ‘Mobama’ friendship would become the flavour of the Independence Day kite-flying scene in the Capital.
We took a trip around Lal Kuan Bazaar in Old Delhi, the biggest kite hub in the city, and found that this friendship was the most popular choice among kite buyers and sellers alike. "Jitni famous in dono ki dosti hai duniya mein, utni hi famous yeh kites hain. Bollywood stars waali patangon ki bhi bahot bikri hai kyunki log Akshay Kumar aur Salman Khan ke liye poochte huye aate hai (These kites are as famous as Modi and Obama's friendship. Kites with Bollywood stars on them are also selling like hot cakes. People come asking for Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan kites)," Mohd Shami, a kite seller, told us.
(HT Photo/ Prabhas Roy)
“Main aapko aur Modi designs dikhaata, but bahot saara stock sold out hai (I would have shown you more Modi designs but they are all sold out),” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“Main aapko aur Modi designs dikhaata, but bahot saara stock sold out hai (I would have shown you more Modi designs but they are all sold out),” he added.
{{/usCountry}}While the Mobama kites range from Rs 10 to Rs 35 each, the kite sellers claim that customers are more than happy to shell out big bucks for big kites. "Unlike the last few years, this year has seen a rise in the sale of bigger designer kites. Customers order special kites that come all the way from Bareilly and Jaipur. Mini kites, too, are a hit among those who like to decorate their homes with kites. While the mini kites are priced at Rs 15 a pack, designer kites range between Rs 50 and Rs 350, depending on the order," said Omardeen, another kite seller