In Photos: The Spirit of Independence in Old Delhi’s Kite Market

As the sun goes down, the kites go up in Old Delhi.

Sonu has been working as a kite maker for the past 16 years. During the kite flying season he works for more than 12 hours straight everyday. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

The kite market in Lal Kuan, Old Delhi is the largest and oldest kite market in the capital. The shops are stacked with colourful kites, available in every possible shape and size, and spools tightly wound with manja. The price ranges from Rs 1 for the defective kites to Rs 120 for the fanciest ones.

These kites are made in dark corners on the narrow streets of Lal Kuan. The kite makers work for more than 12 hours a day inside very small, poorly lit rooms. On an average, a kite maker earns Rs 20,000 to 25,000 during the kite flying season.

An aerial view of the kite market in Lal Kuan, Old Delhi. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

A view from above. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Sonu has been working as a kite maker for the past 16 years. During the kite flying season he works for more than 12 hours straight everyday. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

The kite makers work in very small, poorly lit rooms in the congested streets of Lal Kuan. ( Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

The kites are made from scratch from cutting the sheets to gluing the sticks. Then, the kites are stored in warehouses and sold in the kite markets all over Delhi. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

The kite makers work in really harsh conditions in high temperatures during the summers. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Rupa waits for customers in her makeshift kite shop. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Rupa has been selling kites with her son and daughter for the last 12 years. She sets up her shop in June till 16th August. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Brijrani sells kites in the kite market along with her son. She works as a house wife for the rest of the year but helps her son at the shop during the kite flying season. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

24 years old Mohammed Mofis is from Assam. He came to Delhi 16 years ago looking for work. He has been working in the kite market for the last 14 years. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

A view from inside the shop where Mofis works. (Photo: Erum Gour/ The Quint)

Kites and spools stacked in a kite shop. (Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

A kite seller shows a Narendra Modi print kite in his shop. In the narrow lanes people can find kites in all shape and sizes. (Photo: Erum Gour/ The Quint)

In the night the street turns into a colourfull festival in itself. ( Photo: Erum Gour/ The Quint)

A view of the kite market at night. (Photo: Erum Gour/ The Quint)

Colourfull kites on display. (Photo: Erum Gour/ The Quint)

Quint Lens is a selection of the most vivid imagery created by our in-house pool of talent, and from across the web, created and curated with an eye on for that Quintessential twist. In this section, you can find some of the most refreshing camera and mobile photography documenting current news events, the history and everyday culture of India and the world, heartbreaking stories that can only be conveyed through pictures, basically, anything that simply needs to be CliQed!