India is gearing up to celebrate its grand 78th Independence Day on August 15, 2024. The atmosphere is patriotic, the streets are adorned with Indian flags and every little kid is practicing the iconic song Maa Tujhe Salaam. Along with that, the skies are filled with numerous vibrant kites. Have you ever wondered why the tradition of kite flying is followed on Independence Day? Here is a historical explanation; read on.
The Tradition Of Kite Flying On Independence Day
Holidays:
Indian Independence Day.
This national holiday, observed 15 August, commemorates the India’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947 It is is celebrated with parades, fireworks, speeches, and kite flying.https://t.co/BIqt28SDbH#indianIndependenceDay2020 pic.twitter.com/xiFPPgMrUh— farmersmarkets (@farmersmarkets) August 14, 2020
Independence Day means it is the season of kite flying in India! During Independence Day week, the moment you step onto your terrace, you will find a torn kite or two lying around. It is a sign that it couldn’t win against its competitor. Then, you gaze up to find various colours, shapes and sizes of kites soaring in the sky—a tradition Indians have followed for ages.
To understand this tradition, we have to roll back to the pre-independence days of India. In 1927, agitated Indians struggled to achieve freedom from the clutches of British rule. They protested against the arrival of Commission Simon and raised slogans like “Simon Go Back.” To amplify the awareness of this protest, Indians wrote this slogan on kites and flew them all over the country.
In this manner, their message spread across the nation at a quicker pace. Hence, the act of kite-flying became a sign of protest! After gaining independence in 1947, flying kites became a tradition to celebrate unity, freedom and patriotism. It is not just a mesmerising sight to watch or even fly a kite on Independence Day; it also represents a significant amount of struggle for freedom.
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A Symbol Of Freedom
Young Urban Women’s Flying Kite for Ocassion Independence Day #azadikaamritmahotsav2022 #HarGharTiranga #TirangaMeriShaan #AzadiMubarak @ActionAidIndia @ActionAid @rakeshthakurd @raisindian @mashkooralig @sughrabano6 @NaghmaKhaliq @RinkiRi24689675 pic.twitter.com/ib0HT2idK1
— Saleha Danish (@SalehaDanish) August 14, 2022
It is easy to observe how the simple act of kite flying is like gaining freedom in itself. A beautiful diamond-shaped kite soars in the sky, dancing with the winds of August, tied to a single thread. This thread can cut open your finger if you don’t have the exceptional skills of kite flying!
The kite against the clear blue skies becomes a symbol of freedom for Indians and how our ancestors gained freedom for themselves and their motherland from their brutal colonisers. Years later, it is now a celebration of slogans ranging from “Kai po che” to “Arey, patang katti!” We have definitely come a long way from “Simon Go Back!”
This celebration is complete with good food, watching the Independence Day parade on the television and families coming together for Indian history and cultural traditions.
Have a happy 78th Indian Independence Day; go fly kites with your friends.
Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr
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