{{Short description|Abrasive string used in kite fighting}} '''Manja''' (or '''manjha''') (IPA: /maːŋdʒʱaː/) is an abrasive string used to fly fighter kites, mainly in South Asian countries. It is made when a cotton string is coated with powdered glass or a similar abrasive. In Chile it is called ''hilo curado'' (cured thread).

== Composition == thumb|Manja strings

Traditionally, it is made on fine pure cotton thread coated with a mixture of rice glue, tree gums or similar natural ingredients and finely powdered glass, aluminum oxide or zirconia alumina for the abrasive.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad-times/manja-market-flying-low/articleshow/815018.cms | title = Manja market flying low! | date = 15 December 2006 | first = Rajat | last = Ghai | work = The Times of India | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150624194213/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad-times/manja-market-flying-low/articleshow/815018.cms | archive-date = 24 June 2015 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

A relatively recent introduction, '''China manja''', is based on non biodegradable synthetic fibers.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Muvalia|first1=Gaurav|last2=Jamshed|first2=Nayer|last3=Sinha|first3=Tej Prakash|last4=Bhoi|first4=Sanjeev|date=2019|title=Kite-string injuries: A case series|journal=International Journal of Critical Illness and Injury Science|volume=9|issue=3|pages=147–150|doi=10.4103/IJCIIS.IJCIIS_44_19|issn=2229-5151|pmc=6792401|pmid=31620355 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Safety==

===Rooftop falling=== People often fly the kites from rooftops, which poses risks to their safety.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Uttarayan-cuts-short-six-lives/articleshow/425592.cms | title = Uttarayan cuts short six lives | date = 16 January 2004 | work = The Times of India}}</ref>

===Kite runners=== In some places, kite runners pursue kites to retrieve them without paying attention to the surrounding, causing accidents.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2978988.stm | title = Pakistan tackles killer kites | first = Shahid | last = Malik | work = BBC News | location = Lahore | date = 10 June 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/10-year-old-boy-dies-chasing-kite/articleshow/2697387.cms | title = 10-year-old boy dies chasing kite | date = 14 January 2008 | work = The Times of India}}</ref>

===Bystanders injury=== Many reports of motorcyclists and others having their throats cut by manja - especially when driving through hanging strings.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kite thread claims girl's life, 73 others injured in Jaipur on Sankranti | newspaper=The Hindu | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kite-thread-claims-girls-life-73-others-injured-in-jaipur-on-sankranti/article5577261.ece | date=14 January 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/story/childrens-throats-cut-by-kite-thread-in-india-10540381|title=Two Children Die After Kite String Cut Throats|work=Sky News|language=en-GB|access-date=17 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/17/asia/india-kite-deaths/index.html|title=India: Two children, man dead after sharp kite strings slit throats|work=CNN|language=en-US|access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=newindianexpress>{{cite news |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/mar/08/manja-kite-thread-slits-40-yr-old-techie-throat-in-chennai-1578921.html|title=Manja kite thread slits 40-yr-old techie throat in Chennai|date=8 March 2017|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=hindustantimes>{{cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/throat-slit-by-manja-doctor-lay-bleeding-on-pune-road-for-20-minutes/story-TjEEI2tv7iZkqA5Nwe9ErM.html|title=Throat slit by manja, doctor lay bleeding on Pune road for 20 minutes|date=10 October 2018|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=ndtv>{{cite news |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gujarat-uttarayan-kite-flying-3-dead-after-kite-strings-slit-throats-in-uttarayan-festival-1977634|title=3 Dead After Kite Strings Slit Throats In Gujarat's Uttarayan Festival|date=15 January 2019|agency=Press Trust of India|work=NDTV|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Threat to birds === It is also responsible for injuries to birds.<ref>{{cite news | title=Chinese manja injures nearly half a dozen birds since January 1 | newspaper=The Times of India | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Chinese-manja-injures-nearly-half-a-dozen-birds-since-January-1/articleshow/17905869.cms | date=6 January 2013 }}</ref> A pair of volunteer bird medics in New Delhi care for about 1,000 black kites each year, 90% of which are injured by manja and half of which die.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Whang|first1=Oliver|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/science/kites-birds-conservation-india.html|title=Meet the Bird Medics of New Delhi|date=7 February 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=21 February 2020|last2=Khandelwal|first2=Saumya|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

At the Uttarayan festival, veterinarians had to repeatedly respond to situations where birds had been injured.<ref>'''Sources''': *{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Vets-to-heal-birds-this-Uttarayan/articleshow/1359139.cms | title = Vets to heal birds this Uttarayan | date = 5 January 2006 | first = Radha | last = Sharma | work = The Times of India}} *{{cite news | url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-01-14/ahmedabad/27882489_1_white-rumped-vultures-uttarayan-migratory-birds | title = Vulture worries stalk activists on Uttarayan | date = 14 January 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121019112828/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-01-14/ahmedabad/27882489_1_white-rumped-vultures-uttarayan-migratory-birds | archive-date = 19 October 2012 | work = The Times of India | url-status = dead}} *{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Docs-flock-to-save-winged-victims/articleshow/2688055.cms | title = Docs flock to save winged victims | date = 10 January 2008 | first = Radha | last = Sharma | work = The Times of India}} *{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Soaring-kites-ground-at-least-600-winged-souls/articleshow/991486.cms | title = Soaring kites ground at least 600 winged souls | date = 15 January 2005 | work = The Times of India}} *{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad-times/celebrate-but-with-compassion/articleshow/419246.cms | title = Celebrate... but with compassion | date = 12 January 2004 | first = Jhumari | last = Nigam | work = The Times of India}} *{{cite news | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Many-birds-fall-prey-as-kites-rule-skies/articleshow/34499073.cms | title = Many birds fall prey as kites rule skies | date = 15 January 2003 | work = The Times of India}}</ref>

== Ban == ===India=== Several attempts were initiated by government and authorities but none seem to be successful.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-01-06 |title=Banned Chinese manja still on sale |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/banned-chinese-manja-still-on-sale/articleshow/5414969.cms |access-date=2023-12-07 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> ===Pakistan=== It was banned in Lahore since 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-12 |title=Pakistan cracks down on lethal 'kite duels' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/world/asia/pakistan-cracks-down-on-lethal-kite-duels.html |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==References== <references />

Category:Kites