Girls get ready to fly kites at Shatabdi Patang Utsav in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Jan. 15: As Mohammad Sualehin pulled the string and his kite gathered wind, seven-year-old Arbaz Khan tried to imitate the veteran’s skills of a sport that is increasingly losing its popularity.

Sualehin, 62, was the oldest professional kite flyer, who came all the way from Delhi to take part in the Shatabdi Patang Utsav held on Makar Sankranti at Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in the state capital today. On the other hand, Arbaz, a Class II student of Vivekanand English School, was the youngest participant.

Twelve professional flyers — seven from Jamuria Kite Club, Delhi, and five from Muradabad Kite Flying Association (Uttar Pradesh) — took part in the festival inaugurated by deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

“There was a time when the residents of Patna used to be passionate about kites. But times have changed and the residents have forgotten many of their old habits. Kites used to dominate the sky on the Makar Sankranti day in the past, but not any longer. It is high time that the people revived their old cultures,” Modi said. “I hope this festival will be a new beginning and people will again start flying kites— at least on the occasion of Makar Sankranti,” he added.

The minister tried his hand at flying a kite gifted by one of the professional kite flyers. Modi’s wife and Women’s Training College principal, Jessie George, also had a feel of kite flying.

The professional kite flyers were at the show with kites of different shapes and sizes.

“I have kites that look like a fish or an eagle. The afternoon weather was, however, not very supportive to showcase our skills. I have a plan to fly 120 kites with a single thread. I hope the weather will improve by evening,” said Mohammed Raisuddin, a member of Muradabad Kite Flying Association.

Sualehin, too, rued the lack of wind — a factor that is essential for flying kites. “We cannot fly kites with ease if there is not a strong wind.” He also had an ambitious plan — to fly a kite with a National Flag attached to it. “I have kept some rose petals inside the flag. Once the flag unfurls midair, the petals will fall. The kite has become heavy. I need a strong wind to carry out the act properly,” said Sualehin, who had won the national tournament of kite flying in 1969.

The residents of the city were happy with the government’s initiative to organise such an event. “It is great to see the professional flyers around. This is the first time I am taking part in any kite flying festival,” said Ajay Choudhary, a businessman.

The most overjoyed were the tiny tots like Arbaz. “I am excited to take part in the event,” he said, virtually refusing to extend the conversation, as his eyes remained set on the skies.

Sachin, a Class IV student of Loyala High School, said: “I have brought five kites of different shapes and told my mother that I will not return before evening.”