Lucknow, Oct. 22 -- Long before hashtags trended on social media platforms, the skies of Lucknow were already filled with messages, carried by kites. From the iconic "Simon Go Back" slogans during the colonial era to the current wave of patriotic fervour embodied by "Operation Sindoor" kites, the city's age-old tradition of kite-flying has served as a vibrant medium of protest, celebration, and unity.

On Wednesday, over 500 kite enthusiasts gathered at Gulala Ghat to take part in the annual Jamghat kite-tangling competition-an event that has grown far beyond a festival and now stands as a cultural statement.

"Jamghat is derived from the words 'jam' and 'ghat', symbolising the coming together of people by the riverside," said Amarnath Ka...