97. Reading Skills Comprehension: Festival of Kites

Festival of Kites

Read the given passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:       

1. Uttarayan, a festival of kites in Gujarat, comes on January 14 and the sky in this historical city is emblazoned with a multitude of kites of every hue and size possible, reports PTI. Ahmedabad, known as the capital of the world’s kite lovers and housing the country’s only kite museum, is also a city traumatized by riots, first recorded in the 17th century.

2. But the annual kite festival, Uttarayan, knits all estranged communities into once again. On this day every Gujarati, irrespective of his caste, creed, religion or age, joins in flying kites. The words heard are `patang‘, ‘dor’ and `charkhadr. Whether a child of two or a woman in her late fifties, nothing stops them from giving expression to their joy and enjoyment. The sun is eclipsed by thousands of kites reaching high into the sky from the bylanes of Surat, Rajkot, Baroda, Nadiad and Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad hosts an annual international kite festival that this year was held in Gandhinagar. These paper birds known to mankind since 200 BC have been playing different roles going by historical evidence. They have been used for military espionage and scientific investigations to mention only two. They provide jobs and, as of now, have become a symbol of universal brotherhood in Gujarat.

3. Kite making is an art handed down from father to son. Traditional kite-makers in Ahmedabad are mostly Muslims and hail from as far away as Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow and Bareilly. Also families of kite-makers troop into Ahmedabad three months ahead of the festival season. However, recurring riots have affected business and forced many kite-makers into a state of penury. Sagir Khan says, “I owe nearly 16,000 to people here. I hope to clear the debt this season if the business picks up”.

1.Attemptanygight of the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:

(i) Name the festival of kites celebrated in Gujarat.

(ii) When the festival of kites is celebrated in Gujarat?

 (iii) What are the uses of kites?

(iv) Do you think kites are a symbol of universal brotherhood in Gujarat?

 (v) Where do the kite makers in Ahmedabad mostly hail from?

(vi) Why were kite makers forced into a state of penury?

 (vii) What are the ‘kites’ referred to?

(viii) How did Sagir Khan hope to clear his debts?

(ix) Find the word in the para 3 which means the same as ‘financial obligation’. 

ANSWERS

 (i)Uttarayan is the festivals of kits celebrated in Gujarat.

(ii) This festival is celebrated on January 14 in Gujarat.

 (iii) They are used for military espionage and scientific investigation.

(iv) Because every Gujarati irrespective of his caste, creed, religion or age join to celebrate the festival of kite flying. The estranged communities are being united once again.

(v) They mostly hail from Jaipur, Agra Lucknow and Bareilly. They are mostly Muslims.

 (vi) Because riots occurred in the state frequently which have severely affected the kite making business.

(vii) They are referred to as ‘patang‘, ‘dor’ and Charkhadi.

(viii) He hoped to clear his debts this season if the kite making business picks up.

 (ix) Penury

Download the above Passage in PDF Worksheet (Printable)

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