‘Injured Bird’ on a Giant Kite Appeals to Amdavadis to Consider Birds Ahead of Uttarayan
Just ahead of Uttarayan (14 January), a PETA India supporter dressed in a “bloodied” bird costume and tangled in “glass-coated manja” lay on a giant kite that read, “Glass-Coated Strings Cut Birds’ Wings” and “Say No to Deadly Manja!” The action aimed to raise awareness that cotton threads coated with glass and metal powder, as well as nylon manja, are responsible for the injury and death of humans and thousands of birds each year. It also seeks to appeal to the public to avoid these materials, ensuring that kite-flying remains safe and enjoyable for all.
Manja hurts and kills both humans and birds. Everyone can help prevent these devastating injuries and tragic deaths by choosing plain cotton kite strings or saddi. PETA India urges everyone to say no to Manja to ensure that Uttarayan is a happy occasion for all.
All forms of manja are hazardous to humans, other animals, and the environment. Razor-sharp strings reinforced with glass powder and metal have a disastrous impact on bird populations, including endangered species such as vultures. The birds’ wings and feet are often slashed or even completely severed by manja, and because they frequently manage to hide despite their severe wounds, rescuers can’t help them, and many of them bleed to death. Data released by the Chief Conservator of Wildlife reveals the devastating toll of kite flying during Uttarayan in Gujarat. Last year alone, 17,065 birds were injured due to kite strings and manja. Despite sustained rescue and veterinary efforts, 1,493 birds died from their injuries.
Manja also results in senseless human deaths. In 2025 alone, numerous fatalities have been recorded across the country, including that of six persons, including a five-year-old boy who died after their throats were slit by `manja’ or kite string during Uttarayan celebrations in Gujarat, a 22-year-old man in Delhi, and a 30-year-old UP Police Constable who was killed on duty, among others. More injuries and deaths are inevitable yet preventable.
In addition to the severe risks to humans and other animals, Manja poses environmental hazards. Using nylon and glass—and metal-coated kite strings contributes to the growing pollution problem, as these materials can persist in ecosystems for years. Moreover, these strings can cause power failures, affecting up to 10,000 people from just one power line disruption.
In 2024, following an appeal from PETA India, the central government statutory body, the Animal Welfare Board of India, advised all states and union territories to prohibit all manja and permit the use of only plain cotton string for kite-flying. The governments of Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, and Tripura have issued notifications with similar directions.
