Hyderabadis Go Nostalgic About Patangs and Fun Times
Dicky Long, an Army veteran, said, “On my terrace, I have been arranging this for more than 30 years. My friends are invited to the festival. This has become a trend. Every year, they celebrate here — flying kites, followed by lunch and dinner.”
Hyderabad: Sankranti, which is also the festival of kites, has been one of most cosmopolitan festivals in the region, with people from all religions and regions coming together to celebrate it.
Even as preparations are in full swing for the festival on January 15, with colourful patangs (kites), charaks (spools), and manja (glassed thread), several people from Hyderabad went nostalgic about the Hyderabadi traditions.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mustafah Hussain Syed, a resident of Mehdipatnam, along with his daughter Aaliya, is excited about hosting a kite-flying celebration for friends. “My friends Venket, Pawan, Shujath, and Mukram will have a great time flying kites. We grew up in a friendly-environment. The festival reminds us of the real Hyderabad.”
Vandana Rao, a resident of Himayatnagar, said, “This festival brings everyone onto the terrace. We wave hands, and we also get to see family members who are staying away. But now the situation is different. In these busy lives, we hardly see or meet our neighbours.”
Some families also take the initiative of arranging lights to fly kites during the night.
Prabhakar Kanneboyina, a resident of Kabutar Khana in Hussaini Alam, who provides halogen lighting to most of the area for kite flying, said, “All my friends, irrespective of religion, will be on the terrace. The celebration of flying kites will continue till the early hours.”
Dicky Long, an Army veteran, said, “On my terrace, I have been arranging this for more than 30 years. My friends are invited to the festival. This has become a trend. Every year, they celebrate here — flying kites, followed by lunch and dinner.”