[apachelongbow]

Just today an article in the TOI which mentioned a man in the ICU because his throat got slit by a kite manja.
And read this example below as to how brainless and foolish Indians are: A school going teenage boy was electrocuted and killed because he was flying a kite using a copper wire for a manja, from the rooftop of his slum. Once the manja (copper wire in this case) came in contact with 25000 volts high tension cables passing through his slum, he got a free electric cremation!!

[aaggoswami]

This festival is rampant in Gujarat, Ahmedabad considered the best. In my city, today while I was driving to a friend's place, there was a thread ( manja ) cutting across the road. I thought, let me drive through, I am in a car after all. The manja was having friction with my left ORVM and I could now notice few small fragments of plastic flying in air as all this was happening at 20 kmph. Sensing something could go wrong, like tension in the manja due to my car's friction will make it more lethal for other road users, mainly those on two wheelers, I brought my car to a complete halt on side of the road. Got down only to notice that the manja was so strong, it was like a haxo ( blade used to cut metal ) applied on bottom of ORVM assembly.

A plastic part designed to withstand years of climate, be it rain or heat or cold. A part which is quite tough in its own right, has friction with Manja at slow speed and then its damaged. Imagine what it can do to humans, and worse, birds. Many birds die due to this manja.

Chinese manja is even worse. Something has to be done to curb these. A decade or so ago, my cousin brother was on bicycle in A'bad. He had his throat cut by this manja in front of a school van. The van driver was quick to take him to hospital and he eventually had stiches. A bit delay could have killed my brother due to bleeding.

Attaching a couple of images. This is my Baleno's Left ORVM. Image taken from below the ORVM assembly.

[the_skyliner]

A very useful thread for spreading awareness. I am sure many would read this and take some precautions - both the motorists and the kite flying enthusiasts.

Once 12 years ago while riding my bike I got tangled in this manja thing in Nagpur. I was lucky to have only few small cuts on my forearms. The manja was not that potent - good for me. That time I was a kite flying fanatic myself and since this incident somehow I stopped doing it. Though we used to always go to an open space for kite flying but still that close call made me lose my interest in the "game".

Forget Chinese manja, most dangerous manja is the one that is made from sticky rice paste, fine powder of tubelight and colour.

Take care especially during this month.

[apachelongbow]

A quick question. I have a 50000volt taser, got from the US. What if I tase the manja, will it hit the owner/kite flyer through transmission? If it does, will provide him a free life lesson on the dangers of kite flying...

[roy_libran]

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

A quick question. I have a 50000volt taser, got from the US. What if I tase the manja, will it hit the owner/kite flyer through transmission? If it does, will provide him a free life lesson on the dangers of kite flying...

This definitely deserves at least one try, provided you find one bugger who is flying a Metallic Manja.

[alpha1]

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

A quick question. I have a 50000volt taser, got from the US. What if I tase the manja, will it hit the owner/kite flyer through transmission? If it does, will provide him a free life lesson on the dangers of kite flying...

Not likely. Manja (unless wet) will not be a good conductor of electricity.

[raghu.t.k]

This is exactly similar to the casual handling of fireworks without knowing the danger or the damage caused. Every year a few lives are lost even in Chennai due to these kite strings. Last year when the Police banned the sale of Kites, the traders went to court. So much for the social consciousness for the traders.

And for those claiming its a entertainment / fun, it needs to be done with a lot of responsibility, and without endangering lives. I have myself tried my hand during my school days, but without "cutting/bleeding edge Technology" incoporated. Probably we should ban the Manja usage including preparation, be it Chinese or Indian. Also the kites need to be flown in open grounds, rather than rooftops in congested areas. The Police should also come down heavily on those flying(including kids), those making manja , those using it on the kite strings and those flying it in areas endangering public lives. That said, given the sad state of implementing traffic rules, this would only overload the already stretched police force.

[abirnale]

A friend of mine forwarded me a link in his hospital about performing the stitches on the wound caused by manja on the neck. The link is here - Viewing discretion is advised.

To avoid such injuries on neck, it is advised to use scarf or odhani in 2-3 turns around the neck.

Its extremely dangerous using this manja (Chinese or Indian). In my honest opinion, it should be banned.

There is more fun in flying the kite with regular cotton thread and in open spaces. One should watch Kite Festival celebrated during April first week in National Mall of Washington DC. The kind of variety, pure pleasure of flying and designs would impress you and of course they are safe too!

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by abirnale

A friend of mine forwarded me a link in his hospital about performing the stitches on the wound caused by manja on the neck. The link is here - Viewing discretion is advised.

To avoid such injuries on neck, it is advised to use scarf or odhani in 2-3 turns around the neck.

Its extremely dangerous using this manja (Chinese or Indian). In my honest opinion, it should be banned.

There is more fun in flying the kite with regular cotton thread and in open spaces. One should watch Kite Festival celebrated during April first week in National Mall of Washington DC. The kind of variety, pure pleasure of flying and designs would impress you and of course they are safe too!

One such festival used to be held in Bannimantapa in Mysuru (not sure about now). You could see different kites resembling animals, birds etc. The threads used to be like ropes ! But hopefully, all kite flying should be done on such open grounds.

[Arch-Angel]

Reminds me of my younger years where i used to fly kites and was into manjha research but thankfully i used only natural ingredients at that time and i stopped as soon as i got into 8th grade. I think exercising caution is the only way apart from ensuring flying is done on an open ground. i feel everyone can enjoy our festivals provided they know how to do it responsibly. I have heard of deaths where children fell off terraces chasing kites whose strings were cut.

[naveenroy]

But it is part of our culture and society. How can we stop kite flying - especially with "Chinese" manja? *

* sarcasm

Now, the funny thing about this whole thread was the emphasis on "chinese". But it was "Indians" flying the kites right?

[motorpsycho]

As a kid me and my friends used to make our own manja with cotton thread, they used to snap easily, they are a risk to everyone. Just did a google search looks like police and civil agencies are taking a stand against selling Nylon Manja.

Gangapur police book nylon manja seller

MLA seeks ban on Chinese manja

Ban on Chinese manja not effective

ultimately it us who have to say no using manja of any kind Chinese , Indian or homemade.

[IshaanIan]

They should simply ban, and more importantly, ENFORCE the ban, on manja as well as plastic kites. They could perhaps organize a 3 day long event in a couple of large grounds in each city, where people can pay and fight kites with manja and what not.

[MNITDEVIL]

Been a victim of someone else's kite flying. Came out with a split lower lip spewing blood all over, that too while driving a scooter with a semi-open helmet while on a flyover. Add to it, it was my birthday too. Was a harrowing experience - had I used my hand to push it away, would have fallen off the scooter I was riding. If not for a very dear friend who took me to a plastic surgeon rather than a normal hospital, I'd be having a scar too on my face.

Complaining to authorities might not work as in India, sentiment rules over safety (of others). Unless people understand & try to change their own behavior, this is a safety threat to a lot of people.

Still brings shivers when I read such news or hear about similar experience.

[sansvk]

Incidentally read this in Today's paper

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...uts-black.html