A patang is paper, two bamboo sticks and glue. Making one that flies straight is the hard part, and that comes down to balance, not materials.
This page is the method for a simple paper patang, the kind you would make with a child or to understand what you are buying. Whether you can sell what you make is a separate question, covered at the end. The materials and what they cost are on the kite paper and sticks page.
What you need
- A sheet of kite paper, thin and uncreased.
- Two split bamboo sticks: a straight spine and a thinner, flexible cross-spar (the kamaan).
- Glue — traditionally a flour or rice paste, or a clear craft glue.
- Thin thread for tying the kamaan.
- A blade, a ruler and a flat surface.
Step 1 — Cut the paper
Fold the sheet in half along what will be the spine, so both halves come out identical. Cut the diamond with the fold as the centre line. A kite with unequal halves will always pull to one side, and folding is the simplest way to avoid it.
Keep it inside the legal size. For 2027, a patang may not exceed 35 inches wide by 30 inches long. How to measure a kite against the limit.
Step 2 — Set the spine
Lay the spine along the fold, top point to bottom point. Glue it down with narrow strips of paper over it every few inches. The spine must be straight — sight down it before you glue. A bow here cannot be fixed later.
Step 3 — Bend and fix the kamaan
The kamaan runs across the top of the kite and is bent into a bow. Tie a thread from one tip to the other to hold the curve, then check both sides bend the same amount. Glue the tips to the wing points and the centre to the spine, with paper strips as before.
Even bend on both sides is the whole trick. If one side is stiffer, shave it gently until they match.
Step 4 — Reinforce the points
Glue small patches of paper at the tips and where the kanni will be tied. These are where a kite tears first, and they take the load of the line.
Step 5 — Let it dry, then balance it
Leave it flat until the glue is completely dry. Then hold it by the spine at the centre point: it should hang level. If one wing drops, that side is heavier. A small paper patch on the light side fixes it.
Step 6 — Tie the kanni
The kanni is the bridle that joins the line to the kite, and where its legs meet sets the angle the kite meets the wind. The flying guide covers tying it and adjusting it until the kite climbs.
The step beginners get wrong most often is the kamaan. Traditional makers peel the bow sticks so the centre stays thicker than the ends, and that taper is what lets the bow bend in an even curve. A stick of the same thickness all the way along bends at its weakest point instead, the curve comes out lopsided, and no amount of patching fixes the balance afterwards. If you buy sticks rather than splitting your own, buy them already peeled.
Making kites to sell
Making kites for sale is regulated for 2027. Manufacturers register on the Basant 2027 portal and need a no-objection certificate before they begin production, and selling kites without registration is an offence under the Kite Flying Act 2025. Who must register, and when.
And whoever made the kite, it can only be flown on the permitted Basant days, in the permitted places, on lawful cotton dor.
Frequently asked
How do you make a simple paper kite?
Cut a diamond from folded kite paper, glue a straight bamboo spine along the fold, bend a kamaan across the top and fix it evenly, reinforce the points, let it dry, balance it, and tie the kanni.
What materials do I need to make a kite?
Kite paper, two split bamboo sticks, glue, thin thread, and a blade and ruler.
Why does my homemade kite spin or pull to one side?
Usually unequal halves, a bowed spine, or a kamaan that bends more on one side. Check the balance by hanging it from the centre of the spine.
What size can a homemade kite be?
For Basant 2027, a patang may not exceed 35 by 30 inches and a gudda 40 by 34 inches, whoever made it.
Can I sell kites I make at home?
Only if you are registered. Manufacturers register on the Basant 2027 portal, and selling kites without registration is an offence.
Kites, dor and everything that goes with them
If you would rather fly than build, the 1 tawa gudda is Rs 350 and the 1.5 tawa is Rs 450, both sold singly. See the products and prices.
Selling is paused while our registration is suspended by the Punjab Government — see the notice. The products and prices stay published so you can plan, and we answer questions either way.
- Patang & gudda
- Cotton dor
- Pinnay
- Gloves
- Tape
- Delivery in Lahore