Nepal, Oct. 16 -- With Dasain right around the corner, we are already hearing cries of "Chet!" from rooftops as swooping kite fights engage in full-scale war over Kathmandu's skies.

Until recently, interest in kite flying among youth was declining as they spent more time on screens. It took the Covid-19 lockdown with social distancing for kites to soar again. This year, kites have taken to the skies even earlier, taking advantage of fresh afternoon breezes.

"Parents may not yet imagine that one day their children may ask, 'What is a kite?'" says Nirmal Man Tuladhar, an academic and a kite aficionado.

Tuladhar lists four social beliefs that uphold Nepal's kite-flying culture: kite-flying sends a message to Indra, the god of rain, reque...