Kite Flying Uttarayan Festival Jamnagar City Saurashtra Gujarat India

Jamnagar Municipal Corporation said that, “Kite Flying prohibited during early morning and sunset”.

The Jamnagar City is known to be bird’s paradise, especially in the winter. However, in winter also comes the festival of Uttarayan( Makar Sankranti Kite Flying), which brings along with it, the danger of razor-sharp manjas which pose a danger to these birds.

To protect bird deaths from being victims of manjas, Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC) has banned kite flying in early morning and late evening. This is the time when maximum number of birds fly towards their nests, the notification declaring the ban said.

"The notification, which was released on Friday said, kite flying in the city is banned between six and eight am as well as five and seven pm in the city area," a municipal corporation official said, adding, "This suggestion has been given by the state government. Jamnagar has become the first city to implement it in Makar Sankranti 2010."

There are more than 327 species of birds found in and around Jamnagar, which includes both domestic and migratory birds. There are endangered species also which regularly visit Jamnagar. Furthermore, the city lake, situated in the middle of the city, becomes home to around 98 species of winged visitors during winter. The entire area turns into a bird watcher paradise.

Jaydeep Purohit, a bird lover who never misses to take a round of the lake, said, "We welcome this step taken by municipal authorities. But, at the same time we ourselves must also do something."

Another lover and expert on birds Jaypalsingh Jadeja said, "There are 98 species of birds one can spot at Lakhota lake Talav. Wigeons, Mallard, Pin Tail, Gargani, Common Teal, Tefted Pochard, Common Pochard, Gadwa and many other migratory ducks, shovellers which fly in from Europe."

Tartear which is common for us but a rare bird to watch, Black-Necked Stark which is endangered species list and the bird like Great Crested Greebe, which is found round the year are also seen in Khijadiya bird sanctuary on the outskirts of the city. Sometimes they can be spotted on outer areas as well, where even Flamingoes and White Pelicans can be spotted.

Ganthiyas are poison' for winged visitors'
In a parallel complaint to help save the winged visitors to Jamnagar from being fed oily foods at Lakhota lake, Jaydeep Purohit, a bird lover, and his friends are working towards a program where they can educate people not to feed ganthiya' to the birds, explaining to them the harm they can do to the birds. "We are trying to pursue and educate people against feeding ganthiya and also educating the ganthiya sellers at the lake. People usually feed the ganhtiya, thinking it to be a good deed," Purohit said.