Kathmandu, Sept. 28 -- Through Kalimati Chowk's congested traffic, the bundle of spools and colourful kites hung on the Manandhar family's shop catch the eye. Inside the store sits 79-year-old Dabal Man Manandhar, who busies himself, building small kites. A single gold earring, Hawaiian-print floral shirt and green pants defy his age, his 60s-era sideburns and moustache speak to a bygone era. While Dabal Man does what he does best, his son Mohan Man and grandson Darshan Man busy themselves with customers.

Dabal Man was born and bred in Kalmati since like his fathers and forefathers. He remembers running around the flat land filled with various crops to fly kites with his friends. Dabal Man was merely 10-years-old when his parents opened ...