It was 18 years ago that Manisha Mahatme experienced a terrifying accident, one that still haunts her. If not for Mohammed Ishaque, a shopkeeper who came to her aid, she might never have made it to Dr. Syed Illias’s hospital. Dr. Illias treated her with 125 stitches to her neck, saving her life.
At the time of the accident, Manisha was working as a Chemistry lecturer at St. Joseph School & Jr College. Now a counselor at Jhulelal Institute of Technology, she still trembles when recalling that traumatic day. She was heading home through Chhaoni Road with her nine-year-old son, Harsh, who also played a key role in saving her during the bizarre accident when the ‘manja’ caused severe neck injuries.
Describing the terrifying incident, Manisha recalled, “It was so sudden that at first, I did not feel it. My son told me that blood was oozing from my neck. Later, I came to know that my windpipe was saved by a whisker, 1/100 mm to be precise. It took 125 stitches for me to survive the ordeal. My voice was retained, my life was saved. But when it comes to ‘manja’, the issue has several angles.”
Despite her traumatic experience, Manisha believes that banning kite flying or the use of ‘manja’ is not the solution. “Celebration can’t be and should not be stopped. But we can bring some changes in the way of celebration. For example, we can promote community kite-flying,” she suggested.
She proposed that families could come together on terraces to enjoy kite flying as a community-building activity that fosters social connections. “Four-five families can come together at any terrace where they can enjoy kite flying. It can be a community-building activity that brings people together and strengthens social relationships,” she added. Drawing from the tradition, Manisha pointed out that kite flying is deeply rooted in the culture of India. She highlighted Gujarat’s successful implementation of a kite festival as a major tourist attraction to mark Makar Sankranti.
Manisha also emphasized the need for NGOs to promote safe kite flying. “People connected to such organizations can go to schools, colleges, and spread awareness. Every year, many people become victims of the ‘manja’ menace. Preparation of ‘manja’ involves dangerous substances like glass and dye. Even those flying kites also sustain injuries. To avoid this, people should celebrate the festival in a community,” she urged.
Deshmukh suggested that parks or open spaces could be ideal venues for kite flying, making the activity fun and safer when done collectively.
The debate over banning ‘manja’ or kite flying resurfaces every year during Sankranti or on January 26. Responding to this, Manisha said, “Just one or two or 10 examples should not be the reason for discontinuing traditional festivals. They have their own beauty. But by learning lessons, we can introduce some changes to prevent accidents. The issue should not be discussed only during the festival.”