Guides · Kite sizes
Guddi, gudda and tawa kites: kite sizes explained
Lahore sizes kites in two old units: the tawa, based on a sheet of kite paper, and the githi, a hand span. The diamond-shaped gudda is sized in tawa and Lahore's own patang in githi. The largest legal kites are a 1.5 tawa gudda and a patang or guddi (4.5 githi).
Basant 2027 at a glance
Short answers from our facts table. Each one links to its source and shows when we last checked it.
How big can kites be?
35 × 30 in
The largest patang or guddi. A gudda may be up to 40 × 34 in.
confirmedDetails and source
Official maximum kite sizes: a patang (guddi) may be at most 35 inches wide and 30 inches long (4.5 githi), and a gudda at most 40 inches wide and 34 inches long (1.5 tawa). Nothing larger is allowed.
On this page
What is a tawa kite and how big is it?
A tawa (تاوا) kite is sized by sheets of kite paper, from adha (half) to dedh (one and a half) tawa, and a 1 tawa kite is roughly 33 × 29 inches.
Lahore's kite makers told the researcher Amjad Parvaiz that the standard sheet of kite paper is 20 × 30 inches, and that the trade uses this sheet as its unit of size. Urdu dictionaries list tao as a sheet of paper. In the market you will hear four sizes: adha (half), pauna (three-quarter), ek (one) and dedh (one and a half) tawa.
| Size | Meaning | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Adha tawa | Half | A small, light kite |
| Pauna tawa | Three-quarter | A medium kite |
| Ek tawa | One | The standard large size, roughly 33 × 29 inches |
| Dedh tawa | One and a half | Extra large, the choice of experienced flyers, and the legal limit for a gudda |
What is a githi?
A githi (گٹھی) is a hand span of about 9 inches, and it is the unit used to size Lahore's patang.
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Patang makers measure the paper by spreading a hand across it. By tradition most patangs are 3 to 6 githi wide, but for Basant a patang or guddi (4.5 githi) may be no wider than 35 inches, so anything wider is banned. The bigger the patang, the slower it turns in the air.
Because a githi is someone's hand, the unit is approximate. Always check the size in inches before you buy.
What is the difference between a guddi, a gudda and a patang?
The guddi (گڈی) and gudda (گڈا) are diamond-shaped kites, the guddi with a small paper tassel and the gudda with a paper triangle (patta), while the patang (پتنگ) is Lahore's own curved fighter kite, built in sections.
| Kite | Shape and tail | How it flies |
|---|---|---|
| Guddi (گڈی) | Diamond, with a small paper tassel | Lighter and quicker to turn |
| Gudda (گڈا) | Diamond, with a paper triangle (patta) | Heavier and steadier |
| Patang (پتنگ) | Lahore's own fighter design: an arrow-shaped top, a wide body and a paper tassel tail | The classic Lahori fighter kite |
| Kup (کُپ) | A larger, elongated patang | Bigger, so slower to turn |
The names overlap in everyday speech. Guddi is also the Punjabi word for any kite and patang the Urdu one, and in Punjabi a guddi and a gudda are a girl doll and a boy doll. When you buy, ask which shape the seller means, and check the size in inches.
What is the biggest kite allowed at Basant?
The official Basant portal allows a patang or guddi up to 35 inches wide and 30 inches long, and a gudda up to 40 inches wide and 34 inches long.
| Kite | Maximum width | Maximum length |
|---|---|---|
| patang or guddi (4.5 githi) | 35 inches | 30 inches |
| 1.5 tawa gudda | 40 inches | 34 inches |
Anything bigger is an oversize kite, which is banned, and making, storing or selling banned kites can bring 5 to 7 years in prison. These are the limits on the official portal; if the 2027 notification changes them, we will update this page. We measure every kite we stock against them.
Which kite size suits your wind and skill?
Learn on a light, mid-size kite, and keep the heavier gudda and the largest legal sizes for steady wind and practised hands.
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- Bigger means slower: larger kites use heavier, thicker paper, and the bigger the kite, the slower it turns.
- Light wind: makers use the lightest paper a kite can take because light kites are easier to handle, so in light air start with a guddi or a small patang.
- Strong wind: the gudda's extra weight and paper triangle make it steadier. If gusts bend the spine and bow out of shape, no adjustment will help, so bring the kite down.
- Learning: a pauna or ek tawa kite is a sensible first size; the dedh tawa is the choice of experienced flyers.
- Evening flying: white and light-coloured kites are the traditional choice after dark because they stay visible.
Practise on legal days only
Kite flying is legal only in Lahore on the notified festival days: awaiting notification (official portal: 29 Jan – 7 Feb 2027). In 2026 only adults could fly; under-18s were barred. Until the festival, choose your kites, tie the kanni and check the balance indoors, without flying.
How do you check a kite's size before you buy?
Measure the width at the widest point and the length from top to bottom, then compare both with the legal limit for that type of kite.
- Use a tape measure, not the label: tawa and githi are trade units, and hand-made kites vary.
- Measure the kite flat, without bending the bow.
- Ask whether it is a patang or a gudda, because the two have different limits.
- Buy only from a registered seller during the official sales window.
For reference, these were market prices at Basant 2026, not our prices: a 1 tawa kite cost Rs 250–400 and a 1.5 tawa kite Rs 400–600. The price tracker lists every observation with its source.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a 1 tawa kite?
A 1 tawa kite is sized to one sheet of kite paper; one Lahore guide puts it at roughly 33 inches wide and 29 inches tall. Hand-made kites vary, so measure.
How big is a 1.5 tawa kite?
A 1.5 tawa gudda is the biggest legal kite for Basant: up to 40 inches wide and 34 inches long. A patang or guddi (4.5 githi) may be up to 35 by 30 inches.
Is a guddi the same as a patang?
Not quite. In everyday Punjabi guddi can mean any kite, but in Lahore's markets a guddi is a light diamond kite with a paper tassel, while a patang is the city's own curved fighter design.
What is a gudda?
A gudda (گڈا) is a diamond-shaped kite with a paper triangle (patta) at the tail; it is heavier and steadier than a guddi, and its size is given in tawa.
Which kite size is best for a beginner?
A light, mid-size kite such as a pauna or ek tawa gudda. Leave the largest sizes until you can control a kite in gusty wind.
Sources (22)
- Punjab Basant portal (official) — Safety rules (15 Oct 2026)
- Amjad Parvaiz — Patang: The Fighter Kite of Punjab, Pakistan: Material, Structure and Making (Khoj, University of the Punjab, 2018) (15 Oct 2026)
- MM News — Gudda vs. Pari: a deep dive into the traditional shapes of Lahori kites (6 Feb 2026)
- Pakistan Today — Punjab Assembly passes strict kite-flying law with heavy penalties (24 Dec 2025)
- Dawn — Punjab govt plans stringent regulations for safe Basant in Lahore (11 Sept 2026)
- The Express Tribune — PA passes Kite Flying Bill 2025 with tough penalties
- Daily Pakistan — Kite and thread prices in Lahore for Basant 2026 (1 Feb 2026)
- Pakistan Today — Basant enthusiasm sweeps Lahore, kite prices soar (2 Feb 2026)
- The Express Tribune — Basant in Lahore: historic rooftops booked for kite flying
- Punjab Basant portal (official) — Basant 2027 dates (15 Oct 2026)
- The Nation — Punjab approves Basant festival in Lahore for 2027 (30 Sept 2026)
- The Express Tribune — Lahore skies set for 10-day Basant (1 Oct 2026)
- Geo News — Lahore to celebrate 10-day Basant festival in 2027 (30 Sept 2026)
- Punjab Basant portal — Code of conduct (lists 12–14 March 2027 as tentative)
- The Nation — Basant 2027 to be celebrated in Lahore from March 12 to 14 (18 Aug 2026)
- Minute Mirror — Basant 2027 in Lahore likely to return to original March dates (4 Oct 2026)
- ProPakistani — Age restriction imposed for kite flying during Basant (9 Jan 2026)
- Amjad Parvez — Kites, Kite Flying and Kite Fighting in Punjab: Culture, Tradition and Basant (South Asian Studies, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2018)
- Arif Rahman Chughtai — Basant in Lahore, a raw deal (Chughtai Museum blog) (4 Nov 2013)
- Platts, A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English — tāʼo (a sheet of paper)
- Platts — guḍḍī (a paper kite)
- Wikipedia — Fighter kite