Call it an art, a sport, a tradition, a mere activity or whatever you may, but flying kites is something that most of us would have certainly cherished in our heydays. Moreover, I believe some of you may still be into it. However, for me it’s become a thing of the past. I don’t fly kites anymore. Neither do I remember whether I left it or it left me.

To give you a glimpse of my teenager days and the importance flying kites held in them, here’s how a nomal Makar Sakranti was celebrated at my home. Makar Sakranti, or just Sakrat (as was called at my home) ,was probably the only real festival according to me and my cousins. Sans all the pleasantries and the chaperoning of the adults as was customary in the other so called festivals, this day meant freedom in every sense – no restrictions whatsoever. On the eve just before Sakrat my cousins would visit my home and we would all pool our resources – kites (to the tune of 6-8 kaudis in all), manja (to the tune of 5-7 gattas), spools (charkhis), and the indispensable tape rolls (chipki). As the evening would progress, the preparations for the D-Day would intensify. By preparations, I mean making the kites fly ready. Finally, as the clocks would strike 5, the first planes would take off – armed and ready. The whole atmosphere used to be so electric and mesmerizing with neighboring homes competing in aerial duels (pech ladana). The victor would celebrate with howls of woh kaate, katta ! and the likes. This whole, accompanied with loudspeakers and drum beating, used to continue till 10 or so in the night. And even after that, there wouldn’t be a sign of weariness.

However, a lot has changed now. Today, my only association with kites stems from watching the cherubic neighborhood kids taking turns at flying kites and vying for the ones gone astray – looteras as we use to call them. Playful, jocund yet spirited, these kids can make anyone enviously reminiscent of their insouciance – which brings me to my main point. How did I lose that insouciance as I grew up? Or to say why ? Did growing up mean parting with long cherished activities just so as to make space for the new sophisticated ones? Or am I supposed to blame it all on the society?Whatever the reason may be, it sure didn’tdo any good.

Getting caught up in school exams year after year, the intense preparations to get into a good college, the myriad entrance tests, campus placements, workplace woes, and lastly our beloved CAT/MBA. Pretty much sums up my life post the point where I became concerned.

And now, when I look back, I only wish that I get a chance to live my childhood days again. Or to say:

Give me some sunshine, Give me some rain…….

Give me another chance, I wanna grow up once again !…..