The annual kite flying festival in India killed six people, three of them children.

Their throats were slit by kite strings.

The Uttarayan kite flying festival is held every year in India. The object of the festival is to fly kites and cut through the kite strings of other participants using your own kite strings. It’s kite-to-kite combat. 

The kite strings are modified in order to do the job of slicing through the strings of opponents’ kites. 

Although banned, dangerous materials such as metal and glass are used in the strings. They are called Chinese manjha and they are easily purchased. They can cut through skin, and passersby can easily accidentally get sliced by a kite string, which is tragically what happens every time they hold the festival. 

A two-year-old child was on a scooter with her father when she was cut by a kite string. She was rushed to the hospital but died.

A three-year-old girl was killed instantly when her neck was slit by a kite string.

A seven-year-old boy was riding on a scooter with his parents when he died the same way. 

Three men also died due to kite string injuries. 

Over the weekend, 131 participants and bystanders suffered injuries from the strings and 46 people fell off rooftops and terraces while viewing the event. As usual, several birds and animals were injured by the strings.

Before the festival, police warned residents to be cautious due to possible accidents. It’s not the first time that people have died during the festivals.

The annual kite festival is held in different parts of India as a celebration of the end of winter.