How this Bandra kite-maker is continuing his family’s legacy with unique kites

Ahmed Qazi's family has been making and selling kites since 1952. Photo Courtesy: Nascimento Pinto Lifestyle [ { "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Bandra kite-maker Ahmed Qazi has making and selling kites since 1979, when he joined the business with his father and elder brother. This is 27 years after his grandfather, who came to Mumbai in 1930 Lifestyle [ { "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The season for Qazi, fondly known as ‘Ahmed Patangwala’, starts two months before the festival. Earlier, it used to be much longer and started from August 15 but over the years many people have st Lifestyle [ { "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The kites which come in different shapes and sizes see a huge demand for slum kids over children from bigger houses, according to Qazi, because the latter are more engrossed in their phones. The lack Lifestyle [ { "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Over the years, he has made kites for many Bollywood films including Salman Khan’s ‘Sultan’, Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’ and more recently for a scene in the Bollywood superstar’s upcoming Lifestyle [ { "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

This year, he has already delivered to Powai in Mumbai, as well as Dubai and Singapore to members of the Gujarati community, who he says find kites to be very auspicious. Continuing his family legacy, Lifestyle [ { "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "500ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }] Next Gallery