Kite Flying In Afghanistan: A Colorful Tradition Soaring High

Kite flying is a popular pastime in Afghanistan, with the country even having a national outdoor sport called kite fighting. Kite flying has been a part of Afghan culture for over 100 years and is considered a way of life for Afghan boys and men. It is also considered an art form, with the kites themselves being seen as beautiful pieces of art. However, kite flying was banned during the Taliban regime and remains largely off-limits to girls and women.

Kite flying is a way of life for Afghan boys and men

Kite flying is frequently enjoyed during the weekends, as Friday is considered a holiday in Afghanistan due to religious traditions. The best season for kite flying is during the autumn, because of the good winds. Kite flying is a favourite sport that brings joy and smiles to many people, however, it can also be dangerous.

Kite flying in Afghanistan is also known as "gudiparan bazi", and one of its chief attractions is kite fighting. Kite fighting is a very serious competition, and the sole reason for kite flying, according to some Afghans. The objective is to use your kite's wire to cut your opponent's wire and set their kite free. The kite strings are coated with a resin made of glue and finely crushed glass, which turns them into blades.

Kite running is also a custom in Afghanistan. Kite running is the practice of running after drifting kites that have been cut loose in kite fights. The person who captures a cut kite can keep it, so the bigger and more expensive the kite, the more people will run after it.

Kite flying is a national sport in Afghanistan

Kite flying was banned during the Taliban regime, but after their collapse, it has become legal again. Kite flying is often enjoyed during the weekends, as Friday is considered a holiday in Afghanistan due to religious traditions. The best season for kite flying is during the autumn, as the winds are good.

Kite flying is also a dangerous sport, with many people getting injured on rooftops while chasing free kites or losing focus during a heated battle. The strings used for kite flying are coated with a resin made of glue and finely crushed glass, which can cause cuts.

Kite fighting is a popular pastime in Afghanistan, with the sole reason for kite flying, Afghans will tell you, being to fight them. Kite fighting is a serious competition, with the objective being to slice the other flier's string with your own, causing their kite to fall to the ground.

Kite running is also a custom in Afghanistan, where people run after drifting kites that have been cut loose in kite fights. The person who captures the kite can keep it, so the bigger and more expensive the kite, the more people will run after it.

Kite fighting is a dangerous competition

Kite fighting is a popular pastime in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Chile, Brazil, and many other countries. It involves multiple fliers using lines coated with extra-sharp material to try and cut each other's lines. The objective is to be the last kite remaining in the sky.

The dangers of kite fighting have led to attempts to ban or restrict the activity in some places. For example, the Fairfax County Park Authority in the United States has prohibited kite fighting in county parks due to the harm it can cause to wildlife, vegetation, and maintenance equipment, as well as the risks to public safety. In Mumbai, India, there is a blanket ban on glass-coated strings after several incidents where children's throats were slit during the Makar Sankranti festival.

Despite the dangers, kite fighting remains a beloved tradition in many parts of the world, including Afghanistan, where it is considered a national sport. Kite flying, in general, is a way of life for Afghan boys and men, and it has become a recreational escape once again after being banned during the Taliban regime.

Kite flying was banned by the Taliban

Kite flying has been a part of traditional Afghan culture for hundreds of years. However, the Taliban banned kite flying during their rule from 1996 to 2001.

The Taliban's strict interpretation of Islam led to the outlawing of many seemingly innocuous activities, including kite flying, music, soap operas, pigeon racing, and even certain haircuts. Kite flying was banned on the grounds that it distracted young men from praying and other religious activities.

During the Taliban regime, those caught flying kites would be beaten, and their kites and spools destroyed. Despite the ban, some Afghans continued the practice in secret.

Kite flying is a common hobby for many Afghans and is considered a national sport. It is also a dangerous sport, with injuries and even deaths occurring due to the sharp, glass-coated strings used in kite fighting.

After the collapse of the Taliban government, kite flying once again became legal, and it is now enjoyed by people of all ages during weekends and holidays.

Kite running is a custom in Afghanistan

Kite flying has been practised in Afghanistan for over 100 years and is considered an art form. The kites come in various designs and sizes, and the wire, or "tar", is often coated with a mixture of finely ground glass and adhesive to make it strong and sharp for kite fighting.

Kite fighting involves multiple fliers using these sharp wires to try and cut each other's lines. When a kite's string is cut, it drifts free until it falls to the ground. Kite running is the act of chasing after these cut kites to try and capture them. The custom is that whoever catches the kite can keep it, so the bigger and more expensive the kite, the more people will run after it.

Kite flying was banned during the Taliban regime, but it has since made a resurgence, with people of all ages and from all walks of life participating.

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