{
  "id": 887626,
  "title": "‘Nobody sees our hard work’: Meet the people behind India’s colourful kite culture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/nobody-sees-our-hard-work-meet-the-people-behind-indias-colourful-887626",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T16:30:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/nobody-sees-our-hard-work-meet-the-people-behind-indias-colourful-kite-culture-10833306/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In India's vibrant kite culture, the people behind the colorful creations often remain unseen and unrecognized for their hard work. As you approach Lal Kuan in Delhi around Independence Day, kites become impossible to ignore, hanging from cables, stacked on tables, and displayed in shops. A recent trend features kites with pop culture references, celebrity selfies, and even palm-sized Tricolour kites. The kite market shows a stark contrast to the memories of past kite flying, with children picking through piles and shopkeepers continuously restocking. The artisans responsible for these kites come from various backgrounds and states, often traveling to sell their craft across the country. In Lal Kuan, Mintoo Lal and his nephew Ankit are two such kite makers, working in a cramped room while Bollywood music plays in the background. Ankit finishes his kites methodically, almost as if a machine were operating. Lal explains that the process involves two stages – the initial creation and the final touch-ups by the \"ladies of the family.\" Lal Kuan is a bustling hub for kite makers during this season, with many renting rooms and workshops to make their living. Monthly rents can exceed Rs 10,000, and shop rentals cost around Rs 1 lakh, but not everyone makes a profit. Bismil, a 40-year-old kite maker from Uttar Pradesh, reveals that the daily wages for kite makers are typically Rs 200-Rs 500, barely enough to make ends meet. He laments that despite making 1,000 kites a day, sellers buy them at low prices and sell them for higher prices outside his colony. Bismil and other kite makers face financial struggles, disheartened by the lack of appreciation for their work. Many have left the craft, opting for other jobs like auto-rickshaw driving. Despite the challenges, Bismil is adapting to the needs of new kite flyers, even creating innovative designs like a cockroach-themed kite. The kite-making legacy remains, but the hardworking artisans behind these colorful creations deserve greater recognition for their skills and dedication.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - Lifestyle",
        "title": "‘Nobody sees our hard work’: Meet the people behind India’s colourful kite culture",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/nobody-sees-our-hard-work-meet-the-people-behind-indias-colourful",
        "published": "2026-08-14T16:30:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}