Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: August 31, 1998
Article Type: Journal

Because kites were flown extensively in the Indian subcontinent down through the centuries, references to them in literature are frequent, and often piquant.

Following is a squib from a section on mid-19th century sports and pastimes in , "Two Kings of Awadh"(a region in the north), by Dr. Safi Ahmad of the Aligarh Muslim University:

"Kite flying came to Lucknow from Delhi. This recreation developed and Lucknow became a well-known center of the sport which was patronized by royalty and the nobility. Ingenious devices and tricks were invented and kite flying matches became a special feature of social amusements. This pastime became so popular from the king to the common man almost everyone indulged in it. The kings and nobles extravagantly spent money and it is related that Asaf-u-daula’s kite had a fringe of silver and gold brocade worth five rupees, which earned the same amount to anyone who happened to get it in loot when it fell to the ground (viz., when it was but out of the air by another kite and retrieved by an onlooker)."

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