{
  "id": 880266,
  "title": "Eventful City | From Lal Kuan to the skies: How Old Delhi’s kite market comes alive for August 15",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/eventful-city-from-lal-kuan-to-the-skies-how-old-delhis-kite-market",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-14T14:32:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/lal-kuan-old-delhi-kite-market-independence-day-preparations-10833650/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The lane from Chawri Bazar Metro station to Lal Kuan Bazaar Road bustles with activity, yet the Old Delhi market reveals a hidden world above. The crowded market is adorned with colorful paper kites, depicting popular characters such as Doraemon, Super Mario, Pokémon, Chhota Bheem, Spider-Man, Karan Aujla and Sidhu Moosewala. Every year, ahead of India's Independence Day, Lal Kuan market becomes a hub for wholesalers, transforming into a bustling marketplace filled with kites and plain cotton thread called saddi. Jamal Ahmed, who has been running Ayaan Party Store for five years, notes that at least 200 people come to the market daily, of which around 150 make purchases. Prices for kites range from Re 1 to Rs 1,500, depending on their size and quality. The finest kites come from Moradabad, while those from Rampur are the cheapest. Mohammad Khalid, who has been in the trade since 1972, explains the varying sizes of kites: Majholi (regular-sized), Addhi, Pauni and Tawa (the largest, used in competitions). The thread, or saddi, is crucial for flying kites, with traditional cotton saddi being manufactured in Bareilly and treated with a glazing or starch finish. Despite a ban on nylon and glass-coated kite string, traders continue to sell saddi, even as it is occasionally caught up in raids targeting other banned materials. For kite enthusiasts and families, the Independence Day kite festival in Old Delhi has become a cherished tradition, with generations coming together to celebrate the spirit of freedom.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Delhi govt offering ₹5 meal? Key locations of newly launched 25 Atal Canteens across capital city",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/delhi-govt-offering-5-meal-key-locations-of-newly-launched-25-atal",
        "published": "2026-08-17T04:24:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}