Mumbai:
Sonam Kapoor will donate 3000 kites along with maanja and phirkis, that aren't glass coated, to her school in Juhu, on the occasion of Makar Sakranti.
In a letter sent to the principal of her school, Sonam, who is a member of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), stated that she wanted to save birds that are the most affected by the use of glass-coated kite string.
"As a child, while flying a kite with my friends, I injured myself with the maanja quite seriously. So last year, when PeTA approached me with this cause, I immediately empathised with the plight of these birds," Sonam wrote in her letter.
She decided to follow it up by sending kites and string phirkis to her school. "Although I would have loved to be there to deliver them personally, I am out of town. As a star, I feel we have a certain responsibility towards creating awareness towards the plight of animals. We need to use public platforms to highlight causes that require attention."
A PETA spokesperson says, "Kids love animals and would never knowingly harm birds. By using cotton string to fly kites, students can help urge others to stay away from glass-coated maanja, that is harmful to children who handle it. We want a nationwide ban on the use of glass-coated maanja."
The maanja used in kite-flying competitions are often coated with finely crushed glass.
Humans especially passersby on open vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles are also at risk.
In a letter sent to the principal of her school, Sonam, who is a member of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), stated that she wanted to save birds that are the most affected by the use of glass-coated kite string.
"As a child, while flying a kite with my friends, I injured myself with the maanja quite seriously. So last year, when PeTA approached me with this cause, I immediately empathised with the plight of these birds," Sonam wrote in her letter.
She decided to follow it up by sending kites and string phirkis to her school. "Although I would have loved to be there to deliver them personally, I am out of town. As a star, I feel we have a certain responsibility towards creating awareness towards the plight of animals. We need to use public platforms to highlight causes that require attention."
A PETA spokesperson says, "Kids love animals and would never knowingly harm birds. By using cotton string to fly kites, students can help urge others to stay away from glass-coated maanja, that is harmful to children who handle it. We want a nationwide ban on the use of glass-coated maanja."
The maanja used in kite-flying competitions are often coated with finely crushed glass.
Humans especially passersby on open vehicles such as bicycles and motorcycles are also at risk.
