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How to Make an Indian Fighting Kite

Indian fighting kites are called "Patang" in Hindi and are sophisticated flyers, despite their simple design. The fighting element of the kites is an age-old tradition which utilizes glass-covered kite string to sever the line of an opponent kite flyer. Because hands, fingers, arms and, in worse cases even necks, can also be severed, the flying of fighting kites outside of tournaments is discouraged. In neighboring Pakistan, it is banned outright. The superb aerial shows of the patang can still be witnessed without the danger by using regular kite string.

Things You'll Need

Thin plastic sheet
Utility knife
Flexible bamboo, ¼-inch, 35-inches long
Epoxy glue, non acidic
Craft wire, high tension
Kite line and winder

Instructions

- 1
  Cut your thin plastic sheet to a square 10 by 10 inches with the utility knife. The plastic should be very lightweight.
- 2
  Cut a length of bamboo 15 inches long, and place it diagonally between two corners of the plastic square of the kite. Glue it to the corners with the epoxy glue. Choose one end for the nose of the kite and add an extra dollop of glue for weight.
- 3
  Cut a second length of bamboo 20 inches long, and bend it into a curve. Glue the two ends to the remaining points of the square, with the curve of the bamboo facing the nose of the kite. Bind the two pieces of bamboo where they cross with the high-tension craft wire.
- 4
  Cut a length of the kite string 8 inches long and tie it around the bamboo end opposite to the nose. Tie the end of the kite string which is attached to the kite winder to the cross point of the bamboo. Tie the loose end of the first piece of string around 5 inches up from where the kite string (which is attached to the kite winder) is knotted to the bamboo; this forms a triangle between the two pieces of string. Your fighter kite is now ready to go.

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