Build a diamond paper kite (patang) for Makar Sankranti or a windy day with an adult — sticks, paper, plain cotton thread and a tail. Safe kite flying tips included.
What your paper kite (with an adult) can look like
Kite paper, tissue paper or a large sheet of newspaper
2 thin, light sticks (bamboo strips or broom sticks), about 40 cm and 35 cm
Plain cotton thread
Glue and sticky tape
Paper or ribbon strips for the tail
Tools
Ruler and pencil
Child-safe scissors
An adult to trim the sticks and tie the bridle
Steps
Ask an adult to trim the two sticks: one about 40 cm long (spine) and one about 35 cm (cross stick).
Lay the cross stick across the spine, about a quarter of the way down, making a cross. Tie them tightly with thread.
Run thread around the four stick ends to make a diamond frame and tape it at each end.
Place the frame on the paper and draw a diamond about 2 cm outside the thread. Cut it out.
Fold the paper edges over the thread and glue them down.
Glue a long paper tail to the bottom point — it keeps the kite steady.
Ask an adult to tie a short bridle string to the spine and attach the flying thread.
Fly it in an open ground with the wind behind you, with an adult.
⚠️ Safety note
Use only plain cotton thread — never glass-coated “manja” or Chinese nylon thread, which cuts people and birds and is banned in many places. Fly only in an open ground with an adult, away from roads, power lines and rooftop edges.
Learn while you craft
The diamond (rhombus) shape and its diagonals.
Balance: the tail and bridle keep the kite steady.
