Kolkata kite runners help image of Indian cricket soar

Kite-maker Sikat Dutta makes kites with pictures of the national flags of the countries participating in the upcoming Cricket World Cup. -Reuters Photo KOLKATA: Cricket fans in Kolkata want the Indian flag at the World Cup to fly high – literally. They are thronging shops to buy kites with pictures of Indian cricketers and national flag, saying this is their unique way of supporting the home team. Cricket is almost a religion in India and cricketers are revered like Bollywood stars and with the country co-hosting the World Cup along with south Asian neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the excitement is even higher than normal. Kite makers in Kolkata, the city that played host to the 1996 World Cup final, said the kites with Indian players and national flag on them were literally flying off the shelves. "The Indian flag is being sold more because of the ongoing World Cup. Everybody demands and wants Indian kites. People either buy in bulk or they buy one or two. "We charge about 3-4 rupees ($ 0.066-$ 0.088) per kite. There are various sizes of kites," said Ajit Dutta, a kite maker. Kites bearing images of Indian captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni and leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar were the hot favourites, Dutta said. "The Cricket World Cup is on and there are various kites symbolising World Cup fever. We love flying kites and that is why we want India to win this World Cup," said Biswajit Dey, a kite flyer and a cricket fan. Kites with national flags of other participating countries like South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England, Canada, and others were also available.