Kites are supposed to be relaxing, right? You get a little running start, let out some string, and then use "kite flying" as an excuse to lay in the grass and zone out all day. Sure, it might get caught in a tree if you're unlucky, but you untangle it and grumble a bit, and then everything is fine. Who doesn't remember Mary Poppins, where the whole solution to Mr. Banks' uptight lack of paternal instinct was to go to the park and fly kites with his kids? It's the ultimate chill-out. But of course, some jerks always have to go and ruin it for everyone. Apparently this happened about a month ago, so I'm a little sad about my lack of timeliness, but this event has been so grossly underreported in the United States that I think it's still worth mentioning here.
At least 11 people died and more than 100 were injured at an annual spring festival in eastern Pakistan celebrated with the flying of thousands of colourful kites, officials said today.
The deaths and injuries were caused by stray bullets, sharpened kite-strings, electrocution and people falling off rooftops at the conclusion of the two-day Basant festival yesterday, said Ruqia Bano, spokeswoman for the emergency services in the city of Lahore.
Stray bullets, while weird, are at least a little understandable. Even in good old U.S. of A. we've got plenty of guys who still think it's a great idea to shoot guns in the air for celebration without thinking about where that ammo might land. But sharpened kite-strings? What?
The festival is regularly marred by casualties caused by sharp kite strings or celebratory gunshots fired into the air. Kite flyers often use strings made of wire or coated with ground glass to try to cross and cut a rival's string or damage the other kite, often after betting on the outcome.
Wire? Ground glass?! Come on, since when is kite-flying a competition? Apparently every day in Pakistan is when, because kite-flying was previously banned over a string of deaths related to - you guessed it - wire and otherwise-deadly strings at the last festival. The ban was lifted, and within two days it was total mayhem. Since obviously no one in Punjab Province can even comprehend playing nice when it comes to airborne leisure activities, the ban has been reinstated and almost a thousand people were arrested for various fun-time contraband.
It's lovely and springtime outside today, and I've been seriously considering buying a pretty kite and teaching my little sister how to fly it. Pray we don't manage to kill ourselves in the process.
Kite fighting is very common in South Asia, and plays a large part in many seasonal festivals. Think of it as the ancient equivalent of kicking your friend's ass at Nintendo.
Kite flying started out as competitive. THere are all manner of kites specifically designed for their swooping and sawing motions, to better facilitate the cutting of an opponents kite string.
Where do I sign up? I can't wait to get into my first kite competition. Kinda like a battlebots i the sky. I'm suddenly 15 again and I don't care. Bring on the mayhem!
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_DictionaryGirl_
NEWSWIRE
San Diego, CA
APR 02, 2007 09:31 AM