A place where passion soars high in the sky

A place where passion soars high in the sky!

Almost always it is January 14 that marks the end of the month with winter solstice; the day set by the solar cycle, celebrated as Makar Sankranti. Though its nomenclature varies in different regions of the country, but the common thread that links it, is celebration.  And the most conspicuous way of celebration is marked by flying kites.

Kite flying as a part of the festivities is popular in many states, but the one that took its prominence to international level is in the state of Gujarat. For five decades, an ardent fan of kites from this state, collected, cherished and finally created a place for the display of his passion. For Shri Bhanubhai Shah the passion for kite soar so high that it led to setting up of a Kite Museum in 1986; second one to be established in the world after Japan. 

Though an assortment of 125 kites that forms the integral part of the exhibits is the living testimony of one man’s passion for sharing our cultural heritage, but it also highlights the ‘cause and effect’ mode of development of this typical sport. Historically, how and why kites were used globally, the progress made, the inspiration invoked, and most importantly the science behind the flight of kite in the sky have been aesthetically interspersed among the breathtaking collection of kites.

Patang Museum, Sanskar Kendra, Ahmedabad

Here, one can find the wide range of kites from the miniature sized to the massive one (measuring 22 x 16 feet), with geometric and animal patterns to figures of great leaders and celebrities printed on these, and the oldest kite displayed  is more than seven decades old. The collection not only shows varied size and prints but also the material used in making of the kites; nylon, cotton, bamboo, and of course, paper. The rarest of rare display is the one created using four hundred scrap pieces of paper together. Some of the other interesting displays include the one that depicts Garba dance sequence, block prints and mirror work reflecting traditional art of Gujarat, and the hexagonal kite, Rokoku, from Japan.

Birth of kite flying, the use of kites for signalling or communication and aerial photography as a part of military operations, scientific demonstration during thunderstorm by Benjamin Franklin, and development of airplanes by Wright brothers, are illustrated in between the exhibits, which connects the eras gone by to the modern times. 

Every visit to the kite museum fills you with an enriching experience to take back home. It is a perfect setting for anyone and everyone, young and elder, to learn and experience, value and appreciate our heritage. For children, particularly, it is the place where history and science of kites can be shown through the artistically crafted objects.

Kite is not merely a light weight material tied onto the bamboo strips with the string but appears as myriad spots of multi-hues spreading across our cultural and traditional sky during the festivities. Thus, this unique museum is yet another venue where Art meets Science.

Kite or Patang Museum can be visited in Sanskar Kendra, located in Paldi, Ahmedabad.