From Rooftops to the Sky
by Roger Anis from Egypt
Shot for Masrawy
Swarms of colorful dragons chasing each other, that’s how the skies of the city of Mahalla Al-Kubra appeared for days, as the children were flying hundreds of kites of different sizes and colors, in which their artistic skills were manifested as each kite was unique and special.
”Al-Mahalla city is known for its paper kites especially when the weather gets warm at this time of the year, but this is the first time in my life that I saw this scene, since schools were closed and children cannot play soccer in the streets anymore, they made kites and they spend their time on the rooftops”
said Mr. Ashraf, a candy booth owner, as dozens of kites are stacked in front of him in which he bought from the children for a small profit in return.
Flying kites is not a one man show, but rather it is practiced by children according to rules and signs, usually one kite is operated by two children or more, one carries it and the other controls the spool of the thread, waiting for the appropriate air flow, its tail catches the air and slowly fly close to them, and then, it runs away from the surface, leaving only a shadow dancing on the walls of the buildings.
The government's decision to close all parks in front of the Egyptians and impose a curfew during the spring festival, did not prevent meetings on the roofs of the buildings, and the celebration of children moved to the sky.
