73 arrested,12,000+ prohibited material seized ahead of Uttarayan 2026

Ahead of Uttarayan 2026, Gujarat High Court has reviewed the state's efforts to enforce the ban on prohibited kite-flying threads as made from nylon and Chinese Manjha.

In an affidavit submitted by Nipuna Torawane, principal secretary of the Gujarat Home department, the state machinery detailed its enforcement drive and public awareness campaign against the use of dangerous threads, including Chinese manjha, nylon, plastic threads with synthetic coating, glass-coated nylon or synthetic threads (except traditional cotton manjha), and Chinese sky lanterns.

As per the affidavit, between November 21 and December 10, 2025, police registered 59 offences related to the manufacture, sale, storage, or use of these prohibited items. Authorities seized over 12,066 units of banned threads and related materials—such as reels, spools, bobbins, and tailor-cut threads—valued at approximately Rs 36.80 lakh. Additionally, 73 accused persons were arrested across the state.

To raise public awareness, the state machinery organised 116 meetings at schools, colleges, marketplaces, and other locations. Advertisements were published in widely circulated newspapers, and 230 official social media posts were shared via district police and administrative accounts on platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp groups. In several districts, public address systems mounted on at least eight hired auto-rickshaws were deployed for announcements.

Separate affidavits noted that police commissioners and district magistrates are mandated to issue annual notifications under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, prohibiting the use, sale, storage, and possession of banned articles for kite flying during Uttarayan. A notification for 2026 was issued on September 17, 2025.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on January 9, 2026.