” Kaat ayee bolo bhai chokro kaat ayee..”

…We have cut the strings of your kite, come on boys lets celebrate it!…

The streets of Nahan town are full of such shrieks on the day of Rakshabandhan. Rakhi is celebrated in Nahan of District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh with colorful kites. On this day sisters tie the pious knot of trust, love and blessings on their brothers hand and in return brothers secure the girls of a safe and loving time ahead. After this ceremony, all the boys from town are seen on their rooftop with their colorful kites and charkhis.

I still remember when I was a kid I used to hold the charkhi for my brother while he used to fly his kite. One thing I remember the most about this whole season is, that me and my brother used to be really crazy for kites and the strings. We used to color the string our self by mixing glass powder with color and ararot. No matter how our mum used to scold us, it used to be our goal to make the best strings. Well, those days are gone now. Presently boys go for ready made strings and market is not as deluged as it used to be with colorful kites.

Now even the kite makers who come from Ambala mourn the decline of interest of youth in such a lovely sport. Now a days video games, computer and cell phones have taken place of such outdoor sports. But even today on the day of Rakhi, all the boys of Nahan town come back home and I can still hear them screaming form their roof on the top of their voice, “Kaat ayee bolo bhai chokro kaat ayee….” Happy Rakhi….

Images:

Hindu/Mbdoctor/Smugmug/Todo