Kite+Fighting

Kite Fighting has long been a popular sport in Afghanistan and other primarily Asian countries, such as Pakistan and Japan, though the sport has also found its way to the United States. Kite Fighting was banned for a period of time in Afghanistan when the Taliban were in power, but has since experienced a resurgence.

The Equipment
Kite Fighting is not the same Kite Flying pastime known to Americans. Although mostly undertaken by young teenage boys, Kite Fighting is not a friendly game. This Afghani sport is cutthroat, or more to the point, cut-string. The object of the sport is to cut the string of all other kites in the air, leaving your kite as the last one flying. The special cutting string, called tar, is a mixture of wire, glass, and paste. A team of two boys train together, one releasing the string off the spool or "charkrha" and the other maneuvering the kite.

The Fight
Events and Tournaments are held in almost every neighborhood in Afghanistan. Usually held on Friday, the tournaments are watched and respected by the local people. The fight starts in the early afternoon and can last anywhere from an hour to until sundown. The real excitement for spectators comes when a kite is cut and the Kite Running begins.

The Kite Running
When a kite is cut a group of boys can be seen running in its direction. Not only is it an honor to catch the kite, but the catcher of a kite is also automatically owner of that kite. Young boys run for the kites to use them during the next season and others run to keep the kites simply as souvenirs. The greatest prize is the last kite cut, the second place kite.

Kite flying on Nadir Khan hill, a setting made popular by "The Kite Runner." (Max Becherer for the NYT)

Sources Used: http://afghana.com/Entertainment/Gudiparanbazi.htm http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/14/asia/kites.php?page=1