Even though Makar Sankranti passed a while ago, the severe damage caused by the kite's manja (thread) to a bird or even a human's life is permanent.
Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the god of the Sun. This festival is celebrated throughout India on a large scale by flying kites with your loved ones. The thread which is used by most to fly their kites is called 'Manja'.
Manja is deadly for both humans and animals. It is made of sharp material or coated with crushed glass or other substances. These strings not only cut through other kite strings, but they also cause life-threatening injuries and can kill both animals as well as humans. Alongside, Manja tends to cut through power lines which causes blackouts and electrocution.
Every year around this time, newspapers have at least one or two articles about a person's death or injury due to this cause. This year, in Mumbai alone, 2 people died solely due to this deadly string.
Not only does this Manja harm us, but it also harms the poor birds who are innocently residing in their habitat. It causes birds to get entangled in trees or even cuts them. The birds get entangled for hours, leading to their slow death.
Although, I am not saying that we should stop flying kites. Thus, to recommend a solution, before buying the thread, it is safest to check whether it is Indian (dhaaga) or Chinese (Manja). The Indian ‘dhaaga’ is safer as it cannot pierce through a solid medium and ensures effortless flying!
Well said Aradhana. You're right... Why use manja when we have dhaaga?