Indian kites soar up into the clouds with the winds. This is possible because the material that is used for the body of the kite, usually known as the sail or the skin is light in weight and strong at the same time.
Indian fighter kites (as they are usually known) are traditionally made from very thin paper in a variety of bright colours. The paper type used for kites is very thin but fibrous, which both reduces weight and ensures strength.
Along with paper, modern materials like Mylar/cellophane/foil and sometimes gift-wrapping material, printed plastic sheets are being fashioned into kites, which are equally popular. The principle being as long as the material is extremely thin, light in weight and can stretch a little without being fragile and tear easily, it is fine to use.
Most of the large-scale kite manufacturers have a regular source that supplies a consistent quality of paper or Mylar/cellophane/foil. Some of the brands of paper that are used to make good quality paper kites are Triveni, and Ajanta. Sometimes tissue paper is also used but this does not make for a good kite as it can tear easily.
Modern plastic kites
Of the modern plastic paper that is used for kite making, the gift-wrapping material and the waste printed packaging material make for cheap kites.
The printed packaging material is available in rolls at low prices and this translates into creating kites that are low in cost. Since they come in bright colours they are used as a material option.
The images shown below are examples of such kites.
The Mylar/cellophane/foil material kites make for better quality kites. This material comes in many bright colours and has a metallic sheen to it, which makes it an attractive option.
The bright colours of this material along with the gold, and silver colour options, make the kites stand out and outshine the paper kites. This is why Mylar/cellophane/foil kites are costlier than paper kites.
Also, the kite makers attempt to create different designs in the shapes of the Mylar/cellophane/foil material kites. The bird-shaped kite shown below is one such example.
The Mylar/cellophane/foil material also lends itself very well to kites that are made for the purpose of advertising products, companies, movies, etc.
Sometimes the images of the currently popular film actress or actor too grace the kite bodies. Such kites may be created as promotional material for films or products or for corporate advertising.
The image below shows (amongst many kites in a kite shop) a kite with the brand name of a popular television channel that is used as promotional material.
The kites in the images shown below are examples of kites created for the promotion of Indian films and Indian television serials.
Such kites are usually created only in limited numbers and are distributed more for advertising the category rather than to promote the spirit of flying kites. Nevertheless, such kites do get flown occasionally, but are not the primary choice for hardcore kite enthusiasts.
Instead of just patterns and designs, some kite makers create kites with prominent film personalities, cartoon characters gracing the body of the kite.
The kite shown below carries the image of a popular Indian actress.
The kite shown below has the image of a popular cartoon character.
Decorated kites
Kites are not only made in single colours, but are sometimes decorated too. Paper as a material is both cheap and practical to work with, and it lends itself admirably to decoration. Creative kite makers have experimented with other modern materials too to create kites that are visual delights.
Many designs are created on the body of the kite. Some are geometrical like stripes of varying thicknesses and colours, coloured triangles of different sizes, circles, etc. Symbols such as the stars, the moon, animals, and birds, are also used to create a decorated kite.
These decorative elements are either printed on the body of the kite or are layered on it.
The tail is also a decorative element in the kite. Some have a short tail, some have fringes or coloured tassels all around the bottom two sides of the kite as can be seen from the kite images shown.
Some kites have patches of paper in different colours, silver, or gold to make them look attractive.
A few decorated kite images are shown below.
The image shown below is of a paper kite made of printed gift-wrapping material.
The Indian flag is also an inspiration for creating kites. These kites may be sold in larger numbers just before Independence Day or Republic day.
In the images shown below, one kite is made of paper and the other is a plastic kite with the Indian flag colours and the Asoka chakra printed on it in a graphic representation.
