Gudiparan Buzi: How?

Kite fighting is not just flying a kite in the air and trying to cut down your opponents. There is a lot of strategy and there are many different components to make a kite successful at kite fighting. There is the unit, the kite, the wire (tar), the drum (charkha), the Fight (Jang), and Azadi Rawast.
The first step of how to kite fight is developing the unit. The unit consists of two people, one person to fly the kite and the other one to keep track of the wire. Each is of equal importance. If a good unit is formed, it is a greater chance the kite will come out victorious. All though the unit is important, the kite and wire are the most important elements on how to kite fight.
The specific design of the kite and wire is the key to kite fighting. “Kites were most commonly made of thin paper and the skeleton was supported by bamboo wood” (Sahar 1). This was the most common design because of the malleability and flexibility the design gave the kite. The wire was made from hasht lumber. The smoother the wire, the easier it was to cut an opponent’s wire. The drum held the wire inside. It was made of wood and it assured a fast release of the wire.
The Fight could last anywhere from a split second to thirty minutes. The wind and wire release determine your chances of a victory. Azadi Rawast is the opportunity that arises when the kite is first released and taken by the wind. This is the best time to go for a strike during a fight.
If these steps are followed in preparation and during a kite fight, there is a good chance the kite fight will go in your favor.

What Is Kite Running In Afghanistan?

Kite running or kite fighting in is one of the oldest traditions in Afghanistan along with many other nations. Kite fighting is its own art form and has become not only the fastest growing popularity, but a national obsession since the end of the Taliban regime. Main events are held in the city of Kabul and the streets are lined with stores displaying beautifully colored kites for sell. “Afghan kite fighting often depends on the quality of the wire, or string, and how it is prepared” (Kite Culture). The kites are hand made from tissue paper and bamboo. Most fighters also make their own Tar, cutting-edge line, for their kites. The lines usually weigh around nine pounds and the wing span of the kite is between one foot and five feet. Kites generally range from 2,000 afghanis to 100,000 afghanis in price

Kite fighting is very exciting and fun, but at the same time, it can be just as dangerous. “ Many people are injured when they fall from roofs while chasing free floating kites or when they lose concentration and footing during a heated battle” (Kite Culture). Winter is when fighting really begins. Schools are closed for the holidays and the winds are usually at their peaks which also makes the tradition unsafe.

Kite Running: Why?

Kite Running: Why?

“The streets of the capital, Kabul, are filled with shops
selling kite-flying equipment, and the skies above the city are decorated each
day with hundreds of colorful kites fluttering in the wind."

Kite running is the ancient hobby of dueling with kites. In Afghanistan it is referred to as “gudiparan bazi”, which translates to flying doll. Considered an old winter tradition, kite flying in Afghanistan is considered a common hobby and a game for many Afghans. It is a form of sport that many also consider to be an art form because of the delicate precision that goes into the construction of each kite. The beautiful designs, various shapes, and the making of the “tar” or wire all coalesce into an artistic competition. Many Afghans participate in kite running or kite fighting because it proves their honor. People of all ages gather to watch the fight and even make bets or wagers. The kite flyer and runner, always in pairs, want to compete and yearn to win against the best kite fighters in their neighborhood. Although, as Hosseini states in his novel The Kite Runner, “the most coveted prize was the last fallen kite of a winter tournament. It was a trophy of honor, something to be displayed on a mantle for guests to admire.”

For young boys, kite running is considered the highlight of the cold season. Excitement heightens as the tournament draws near. As Hosseini describes in his novel The Kite Runner, “I felt like a soldier trying to sleep in the trenches the night before a major battle. And that wasn’t so far off. In Kabul, fighting kites was a little like going to war.” Kite running was a way for many Afghans to escape the daily hardships of being at war and the harsh conditions under the Taliban. It wasn’t long before the Taliban banned kite running because they saw it as being un-Islamic. The Taliban regime, which banned music, television and most other forms of entertainment, had a particular loathing of kite fighting. Gambling is forbidden in Islam. Years later, kite running has finally been re-introduced and many Afghans have returned to this pastime and it has hit new heights of popularity in the country.

Kite running is a long standing tradition encompassing years of customs and rituals that are imperative to Afghanistan’s history. Kite running is an important aspect of Afghanistan’s culture and provides an addicting sport, absorbed by Afghans of all ages, to bring the country together.

Sources provided by:

http://www.kitelife.com/archives/issue29/afghankites2003/

http://www.afghanmagazine.com/2004_06/articles/hsadat.shtml

http://www.afghana.com/Entertainment/Gudiparanbazi.htm

http://ezinearticles.com/?Kite-Festival&id=254826

http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/883774