He is also demanding a “fair and equal asylum and immigration for all, including Afghans”. “Gangster theocracy is brutalising the population without any vision of progress or any basic services for the population,” Mr Qiam said, choking up while describing the desperate situation in his native country. The economy is in crisis, foreign aid has been withdrawn and the rights of women and girls are being eroded, with restrictions on education and employment. Mr Qiam now runs kite-making workshops for children (Photo: Alice Denny for Good Chance Theatre)Ī year on from the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis is “as bad as you can imagine”, said Mr Qiam, who still has friends and relatives living there.īy mid-2022, 97 per cent of the population is estimated to fall into poverty, according to the UN Development Program. “By making and flying kites in the Afghan tradition, led by Afghans who have made new lives in Europe, we will be standing in solidarity with Afghans in the latest affront to their freedom,” said the theatre directors. Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, Co-Artistic Directors at Good Chance Theatre, said kites represent “freedom” and that the festival is a reminder to remember Afghanistan as the country suffers a devastating humanitarian crisis. Let’s take to the skies and remember that Afghanistan’s flag has been wiped once again.” “The colours change but our skies are the same. But we have always flown kites,” said Mr Ehsas. “During my lifetime, my country’s colours have been painted, wiped, repainted then wiped again 15 times. The festival is being led by Afghan people including Mr Qiam and Elham Ehsas, an actor known for playing young protagonist Assef in the film adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s novel, ‘The Kite Runner’.Īfghanistan has a tumultuous history, with the national flag changing 19 times during the 20th Century, but the people’s love of flying kites has remained constant. Mr Qiam, who lives in Brighton after immigrating to the UK in 2011, wants to bring a snippet of Afghan culture to the UK with a nationwide kite-flying festival on Saturday 20 August.įly With Me, organised by Good Chance Theatre, will take place in 15 cities across the UK to mark the anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, with free kite flying workshops and a mass kite-flying event for all to join. “Anything that’s an expression of joy, fun or humanity, they wouldn’t like.” Mr Qiam has been flying kites since he was a child living in Kabul (Photo: Alice Denny for Good Chance Theatre) Is the bond that ties them together in both positive and negative ways.“The nature of the Taliban is that they are oppressive,” he told i.A game and pass time that Amir and Hassan share together.This person is referred to as a kite runner – running after the falling kite.This is a great opportunity for someone else to catch it. Once the loser of the fight has lost the kite, it is released into the air without guidance and follows the direction of the wind.The faster you release the more likely one will win the fight. The general concept is to release wire and avoid pulling while in the fight.It can last anywhere from a split second to a ½ hour depending on wind, the wire, or any other factor.As soon as the wire of a kite touches another, the fight has begun.The coated wire is sharp and is designed for kite fighting.The wire is dipped into the adhesive and after it is dry, it is wound around the spool (charkha).Glass is ground up and mixed with an adhesive material and mashed rice to make a paste.The wire that connects the kite to the leader is really important and determines the success of kite fighting.They are made of thin paper and are supported by bamboo wood, allowing for flexibility.Gudiparan literally means flying doll.One person flies the kite (leader) and the other to keep the charkha (the spool of wire).To have an operational flying unit, it would take 2 people.The final two remained, every kite runner readied himself for the chance It was a trophy of honor, something to be displayed onĪ mantle for guests to admire. For kite runners, the coveted prize was the last fallen kite of a winter
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