Ahmedabad: As Uttarayan approaches, the festive spirit in Ahmedabad remains unshaken despite a steep rise in the prices of kites and manja. Markets in Kalupur, Jamalpur, and Raipur are abuzz with enthusiasts willing to seal the best deal for their Uttarayan stash — kites, manja, and other accessories.
Traders and manufacturers attribute the price hike to a combination of reduced production, higher raw material costs, and an extended monsoon that impacted output. “Kites, which were priced at Rs 80–100 per kodi last year, now cost Rs 120 per kodi, while pre-tied kites catering to younger enthusiasts unfamiliar with traditional knot-tying are priced at Rs 150 per kodi,” said Bhavin Khajanchi, a kite trader in Ahmedabad.
Pappu Patangwala, a third-generation kite manufacturer, attributed the manja price hike to the reduced production. “A firki (spool) of 1,000 yards, which cost Rs 350 last year, is now Rs 450. Premium reels with longer threads are priced between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500. The extended monsoon disrupted production, and combined with higher raw material costs, stocks are limited. All carry-over stock from last year is already sold.”
Customisation has become a notable trend, as customers opt for personalised manja reels in colours and designs of their choice. “While these changes mark a shift in preferences, traditional plain-coloured ‘cheel’ kites continue to dominate the market, while kites featuring political leaders and film posters have seen a decline in demand,” said Kamlesh Modi, a kite trader.
Despite these challenges, the enthusiasm for Uttarayan remains high. Families and kite enthusiasts are preparing for the festival with renewed zeal. Ravi Shukla, a software engineer from Siddhpur, said, “Earlier, we used to go to the pol (housing cluster) to celebrate the festival to recreate my childhood festive vibes. However, nowadays, the atmosphere is very vibrant in my neighbourhood and as a result, we celebrate at home itself with all pomp and preparations. In fact, a number of youngsters in our family learnt the art of flying kites and now fully enjoy the festivities over two days.”
Entrepreneur Bhargav Korat plans to enjoy the festival at his old house in Nirnaynagar. “Traditional kite flying is more enjoyable in low-rise neighbourhoods compared to highrises where the practice is less common. This is the last time when we will be able to enjoy Uttarayan in our old neighbourhood though, as the society is going for a redevelopment. This is very unfortunate because once redeveloped, the societies once again turn into highrise apartments, killing the charm of Uttarayan,” he said.