Chapter 3.2 – The Kite Festival
Warming up!
1. Cut out the wrong kites.
Ans:
2. Name the festival that you enjoy the most of all. Fill in the facts about that festival.
(a) Name of the festival :
Ans: Diwali
(b) When it is celebrated :
Ans: It is celebrated every autumn between October and November.
(c) Why it is celebrated :
Ans: South India celebrates Diwali as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. In northern India, they celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps.
(d) How it is celebrated :
Ans: People clean and decorate temples, as well as their homes and workplaces. Places are brightly illuminated with candles and oil lamps, and devotional offers (puja) are made. People also often wash themselves with water and fragrant oils or wear adornments and new, fine clothes. Families may organise feasts at which sweets (mithai) and gifts are shared. Many cities, towns, and villages set off fireworks in the evening and hold fairs (melas).
(e) Special cuisine :
Ans: Samosa, aloo bunda, gulab jamun, sooji halwa, murukku, namak pare, gajar ka halwa, gujiya, kalakand, batasha, rasgulla, soan papdi, etc.
(f) Other special features :
Ans: During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli, perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared.
In Between the Lesson!
Q1. How did the kites of the past differ from the modern ones?
Ans: The kites of the past were made of kite paper and a wooden frame, but modern kites are motorised and made of fibre glass. The kites of the past were box kites, which were designed more than a hundred years ago and inspired others to create power-driven aeroplanes. In this way, the kites of the past differed from modern ones.
Q2. When is kite-flying at its peak in India?
Ans: The kite flying is at its peak in the spring season and Makar Sankranti. This day also coincides with the festival of Uttarayan, when the sun is said to begin its journey to the northern hemisphere.
Q3. How do they celebrate the kite-flying festival in Gujarat?
Ans: The kite-flying begins at dawn and continues throughout the day. People of all ages gather in the open, on rooftops and terraces. They compete with each other and are triumphant when someone cuts the thread of a rival. Some people prepare special lines for their kites. There is music in the air, and traditional delicacies are specially prepared. An International Kite Festival is organised by the Gujarat State Tourism Corporation.
Q4. Why is the kite-festival at Ahmedabad so special?
Ans: The kite festival at Ahmedabad is very special because: An International Kite Festival is held either at the Sardar Patel Stadium or the Police Stadium. It attracts international kite-flyers as well as local champions. Little Indian paper kites compete with those from Japan, the USA, the UK, and other countries. Exotic kites with marvellous shapes such as eagles and snakes soar in the sky. The Patang, or Kite Bazar, in the heart of Ahmedabad is open 24 hours a day for a whole week, and people crowd the streets through the night. Skilled craftsmen demonstrate kite-making’s age-old skills and how to prepare a special thread. At night, illuminated box kites are sent into the sky.
Q5. What does a visit to the Patang Bazar prove?
Ans: A visit to the Patang Bazar proves one’s love for kite flying!
Q6. How is the special thread for kite-flying prepared?
Ans: The special thread for kite-flying is prepared by covering the thread with a mixture of glue and ground glass, which is then dried and rolled onto reels known as ‘firkees’. These lines are so sharp that, if carelessly used, they can cut a finger.
Q7. What are ‘tukals’?
Ans: Tukals refer to the illuminated box kites, which are often strung on one line and launched into the sky. They add beauty to the dark sky and compete with the brilliance of the stars.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
Synonyms
lustre, rise, victory, competitor, old – fashioned, joyfully, foreign, pause
Antonyms
partner, dullness, start, sorrowfully, drop, modern, native, defeat
| Words | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|
happily | ||
traditional | ||
halt | ||
triumph | ||
exotic | ||
rival | ||
soar | ||
brilliance |
Ans:
| Words | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|
happily | Joyfully | Sorrowfully |
traditional | Old-fashioned | Modern |
halt | pause | start |
triumph | victory | defeat |
exotic | foreign | native |
rival | competitor | partner |
soar | rise | drop |
brilliance | lustre | dullness |
2. Say whether the following statements are true or false.
(a) Fibreglass kites led to creating power – driven aeroplanes.
Ans: False
(b) In Gujarat, the kite – festival is celebrated to welcome the Spring.
Ans: False
(c) ‘Uttarayana’ starts from Makar Sankranti onwards.
Ans: True
(d) Kite – flying in Gujarat, is a competitive sport – cum – festival.
Ans: True
(e) The kite – bazar in Ahmedabad, is open day and night for a week.
Ans: True
(f) The special thread for kite – flying is sharpened by adding sugar and glass pieces.
Ans: False
3. Using points from the lesson, give the details of the following in a short paragraph for each topic.
(a) Different types of kites.
Ans: Kite-flying has a long history. There are many Greek, Indian, and other mythological stories that tell us about human beings wanting to or trying to fly. Kites were made of thin wooden frames and kite paper in the past. Since then, it has come a long way with the invention of fibreglass and motorised kites. The other types of kites available are exotic kites, box kites, and illuminated box kites.
(b) International Kite Festival at Ahmedabad.
Ans: The International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad is a big event that is organised by the Gujarat State Tourism Corporation. It is held either at the Sardar Patel Stadium or the Police Stadium. The popular festival attracts international kite flyers, who demonstrate their skills in flying exotic kites, and local champions as well. Little Indian paper kites compete with those from Japan, the USA, the UK, and other countries. Excited spectators watch in awe as marvellous shapes such as eagles and snakes soar into the skies.
(c) The kite bazar of Ahmedabad.
Ans: One of the highlights of this festival is the Patang, or Kite Bazar, in the heart of Ahmedabad, which is open twenty-four hours a day for a whole week. A visit to this bazaar in the middle of the night is enough to prove that the entire city is obsessed with kites. People crowd the streets and buy their stocks, haggling through the night.
4. You have just returned after your first experience of the kite – festival in Gujarat / Ahmedabad. You were thrilled with the festivities.
Write a short report about the kite – festival for your local newspaper. Give an attractive headline, a dateline and an account of the kite – festive. Write the report in the third person with more use of Passive voice.
Ans:
Sky adorned with colourful and varied kites
Ahmedabad, January 16: The International Kite Festival is adorned with several colourful kites this year. Many countries took part in the annual festival. The Gujarat State Tourism Corporation organised the International Kite Festival, which was held at the Sardar Patel Stadium. Indians and fourteen other countries participated in the festival. The kites were of various sizes, shapes, and colours.
Kites were of crocodiles, dragons, snakes, eagles, etc shaped or some with stone studded and tiny lights. There were also many spectators watching the festival as the kites flew high in the sky. Korea won the first prize in the competition, which is a gold-plated club.
You have a friend who lives abroad. Write a letter to your friend describing how you enjoyed the kite-festival.
Ans:
16/B, Gulmohar,
Ahmedabad.
16th January 2020
Hi Amaan,
I hope you are fine and everything is alright there. You have not written to me for a long time since you went to Canada.
Today, I am writing to tell you all about the wonderful International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad. It just got over, and the festival was very amazing. I, along with my friends, had a very exciting time watching the festival and different people flying different types of kites. We also cheered very much for all the countries taking part in the competition. We were also flying kites, but they were very ordinary. Several kites were also flown from different countries participating in the competition. The competition was also very thrilling, with different kites flying high. Overall, we enjoyed the festival very much. I wish you were also here with me for the festival.
Please take out some time and visit my place; you’ll surely enjoy yourself and have the best time.
Your best friend,
Sanket.
5. (A) Verb forms show both, Tense (Present, Past, Future) and Aspect (Progressive, Perfect, Perfect Progressive)
Progressive (Continuous) : be + verb – ing
Present Progressive : He is playing.
Past Progressive : He was playing.
Future Progressive : He will be playing.
Perfect : have / has / had verb – en / ed
Present Perfect : They have played.
Past Perfect : They had played.
Future Perfect : They will have played.
Perfect Progressive : have/has/had + been + verb – ing
Present Perfect Progressive : We have been playing.
Past Perfect Progressive : We had been playing.
Future Perfect Progressive : We shall have been playing.
(B) Underline the verb forms in the following sentences and state their Tense and Aspect.
(i) They are waiting for the right winds.
Ans:
Tense: Present
Aspect: Progressive
(ii) People were haggling over the price of kites.
Ans:
Tense: Past
Aspect: Progressive
(iii) Vendors had been selling kites all through the week.
Ans:
Tense: Past
Aspect: Perfect Progressive
(iv) Skilled craftsmen had demonstrated age – old skills.
Ans:
Tense: Past
Aspect: Perfect
(v) State Tourism Corporation will be organising the International Kite Festival.
Ans:
Tense: Future
Aspect: Progressive
(vi) Kite – flyers have demonstrated their skills with exotic kites.
Ans:
Tense: Present
Aspect: Perfect