tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2040063946738704893.post-53295020228929751102008-01-15T23:06:00.000-09:002008-01-15T23:12:34.235-09:00<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c1ctOPRwuFc/R427d8mRAoI/AAAAAAAAAFE/qdBe26utQTI/s1600-h/kites.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155983271566312066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_c1ctOPRwuFc/R427d8mRAoI/AAAAAAAAAFE/qdBe26utQTI/s400/kites.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Uttarayan – the kite flying festival was celebrated with much gusto during the last two days here in Gujarat. Colourful kites, loud music and voices screaming ‘<em>kaypo che</em>’ and ‘<em>lapet</em>’ filled the air. Relatives visited each other, friends indulged in some fruitful bird-watching on the terraces and undhiyon-fafda-jalebi was the obvious menu in every household. The tanned faces, bruised fingers and sore throats of every second person I met were a telling tale of the fun-filled day spent on the terrace.<br /><br />But today is a different story all together. The colourful kites that adorned the skies are now seen entangled in the branches of every tree and electrical wire that comes to sight. The dangerous glass coated threads (manja) that became the reason of much jubilation and many frustrations until yesterday now lie on the roads, clinging to every vehicle and passer-by in its way. And I haven’t even spelt out the worst that could have happened – something I feared the most.<br /><br />The headline reads that a man lost his life after a Chinese thread (apparently with more glass powder) slit his throat while he was driving on his two-wheeler. Seven other people lost their lives while chasing kites and two toppled off the terrace. More than 500 birds were injured and 90 lost their lives during these two days - some of which include the most endangered species.<br /><br />I cannot help but think, are these celebrations even worth it? Why don’t people understand that their moments of joy could cost someone his life? It degrades the very essence with which such festivals were started in the first place. And Uttarayan is not the only festival to be blamed here. In every festival - be it Holi or Diwali – the nuisance overrules the celebrations. Chemical colours burn the skin; black smoke chokes the air – but we wouldn’t stop celebrating such festivals. Afterall, they are a part of our tradition, isn’t it? Think again. Do we still have to continue like this? Can we not think of better ways of celebrating these festivals in its true spirit?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2040063946738704893-5329502022892975110?l=bhumikaa.blogspot.com'/></div>bhumikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09474692306930275957bhumika.udernani@gmail.com6