The day of Makar Sankranti is special for kite flyers along with religious significance. Colorful kites are seen in the sky especially on this day. But the story of Patang and Manjha is incomplete without Bareilly. Bareilly Manjha is in great demand all over the country. Today we will tell you the story of Manjha of Bareilly.
Manjha came into existence on the demand of Nawabs
Habib Mian of Bareilly used to make Manjha in his time. He was counted among the great masters, but has now become old. On the question of how Manjha started in Bareilly, Habib Mian while talking to a media organization said that there is no exact account of it. He said that this work had started from the era of Nawabs. Because people belonging to the royal family of Lucknow-Bareilly used to be fond of kite flying, at that time kites were flown with cotton thread only. But then gradually the kite flyers started fighting and cutting each other’s kites. After which the competition for kite cutting started again. He said that the kite could not be cut with cotton thread, a sharp thread was needed to cut the kite. After this, while trying, a thread was made with glass attached to it, which was later called Manjha.
Business increased with kite flying
He was very fond of kite flying in and around Lucknow-Bareilly. Due to which thread work gradually started, after this the work of weaving also started here. According to the information, Ali Mohammad first learned how to make Manjha in Bareilly. After this, the craft of making Manjha spread in Bareilly from him. Let us tell you that during the era of Nawabs, some Muslim families used to do this work.
Kite string till the market
After a time, kite flying became popular among the Nawabs and royals. It became a hobby even among the common people after coming out of the families. After this, gradually the demand for Manjha-Kite also increased in the market. Let us tell you that in the present times, this work is done mostly in Bakarganj and Sarai Kham of Bareilly. Apart from North India, this work is also sold in Gujarat and Rajasthan, which are famous for kite flying. According to the information, today about 25 thousand Muslim families are involved in the work of Manjha in Bareilly city.
How Manjha is made
An artisan from Bareilly told. First of all, two ends of the bamboo are made and threads are pulled between them. After this, a special kind of coating is applied on the thread. This coating is very special. Because for making this, glass is purchased from the market, then this glass is ground very finely in a mill or Imamdasta. Rice flour, sugar candy powder and color are mixed in finely ground glass. All these are mixed and kneaded like dough, then this paste is applied on cotton threads.
Let us tell you that while applying this mixture on the thread, the artisans wrap the thread on it to protect the fingers. When this mixture applied on threads dries, it is rubbed in a special way. The artisans call this entire work as Manjha Sutna in their language. Apart from this, while spinning Manjha, the artisans have to continuously move from one end of the stretched threads to the other. Only then Manjha is ready. Bareilly’s Manjha is so good that kite flyers from all over the country demand this Manjha.
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