Guides · Kanni

How to tie a kanni, the bridle that balances your kite

The kanni (کنی) is the kite's bridle: a cotton thread tied through two points on the spine, one where the bow crosses it and one lower down, with your dor tied to it. Centre the points and get the length right, then test the hang and balance indoors, and fly only on notified Basant days.

Last updated 15 October 2026

Basant 2027 at a glance

Short answers from our facts table. Each one links to its source and shows when we last checked it.

When is it?
Awaiting notification (official portal: 29 Jan – 7 Feb 2027)
Basant 2027 dates still await a Deputy Commissioner notification.
awaiting official notificationDetails and source
Basant 2027 dates still await a Deputy Commissioner notification. The official Basant portal and the Punjab government's latest announcement (30 September 2026) give 29 January to 7 February 2027, excluding 5 February for Kashmir Day. These replaced the 12–14 March 2027 dates announced in August, which the portal's code of conduct still lists as tentative; a return to March was reported on 4 October 2026 but has not been notified.
awaiting official notificationSource: Punjab Basant portal (official)Last verified 15 Oct 2026
Which string is legal?
Cotton dor only
Up to 9 threads (tars), at least 28 count, approved maanjha only.
confirmedDetails and source
Only cotton dor is allowed: at most 9 threads (tars), at least 28 count, coated only with approved maanjha, and wound in a round ball called a pinna. Every pinna must carry its own QR code for verification.
confirmedSource: Punjab Basant portal (official)Last verified 15 Oct 2026

On this page

What is a kanni?

The kanni is the short bridle of thread tied through a kite at two points on its spine, and where you tie your dor to it decides how steady or how lively the kite flies.

Kite makers across South Asia use close cousins of the word: in Gujarat the bridle is the kinnah, and in Patna the tie strings are kannas. Platts' Urdu dictionary gives kanna as 'the part of a paper kite to which the string is tied' and kanni as a small make-weight tied to a kite's lighter side, and a kite that kanni khati hai leans to one side.

Traditional paper and bamboo fighter kites use this two-point bridle. It is quick to tie but cannot do much for a kite that leans to one side; that is a job for the wings and bow.

Where do the two kanni points go?

The top point goes where the bow (kaman) crosses the spine (dhadda), and the bottom point goes on the spine about two-thirds to three-quarters of the way down from the nose.

Top point: the crossing of the kaman and the spine, about a quarter of the way down from the nose. Tie the kanni so that it also binds the bow and spine together.
Bottom point: on the spine, between two-thirds and three-quarters of its length from the nose.
Holes: at both points, pierce a small hole on each side of the spine with a needle, so the thread can loop behind the stick.
Centre line: keep every hole tight against the spine. Lahore's kite makers say a small error in finding the centre is enough to unbalance a kite.
Thin paper: a small square of paper tape (chaipi) over the holes stops the paper tearing in the wind.

How long should the kanni be?

Pulled sideways, it should just reach a wingtip, and the tie point should leave the upper leg about as long as the gap between the two points and the lower leg a little longer.

Work in proportions, not inches: every hand-made kite differs, so measure against your own.

A quick hang check

Hang the kite from the tie point: the nose should sit a little higher than the tail. If the tail is higher, move the tie point toward the nose; if the nose points up steeply, move it toward the tail.

How do you tie a kanni step by step?

Mark and pierce the two points, tie each end of a cotton thread around the spine, check the length against a wingtip, and add a sliding loop for your dor.

Gather what you need
A kite, a needle, cotton thread and scissors, on a flat table indoors. Use cotton only: nylon and glass- or metal-coated thread are banned on a Basant kite.
Mark the points
Mark the top point where the kaman crosses the spine, and the bottom point two-thirds to three-quarters of the way down the spine.
Tie the top
Pass one end through a hole beside the top point, behind the spine and out through the other hole, then lock it with a double half hitch.
Set the length and tie the bottom
Pull the thread sideways to a wingtip and stop where it just reaches the tip. Tie it around the spine at the bottom point in the same way.
Add a sliding loop
Knot a short piece of thread into a small loop and fix it to the kanni with a lark's head knot, which grips when pulled but slides when loosened.
Set the starting point
Hang the kite from the loop and slide it until the nose sits a little higher than the tail, then tie your dor to the loop.

How do you test a kanni without flying?

Hang the kite from the loop, rest the spine on a fingertip to compare the wings, and save the real test for a notified flying day.

Hang test: as above, the nose should sit slightly higher than the tail.
Wing test: rest the spine on a fingertip; if one wing drops, that side is heavier.
Fine-tuning: moving the loop toward the tail makes the kite steadier; toward the nose, it turns and spins more readily. Move it a little at a time.

Fly only on notified days

Kite flying is banned in Punjab except in Lahore on the days the Deputy Commissioner notifies, and in 2026 only adults could fly: under-18s were barred. The official Basant portal lists 29 January to 7 February 2027, excluding 5 February, but the dates still await a Deputy Commissioner notification. Until then, test indoors only.

How to balance a kite that spins or leans

What are the most common kanni mistakes?

The usual mistakes are off-centre holes, a kanni long enough to pass the wingtip, a tie point pushed to either extreme, and knots that slip.

Off-centre holes unbalance the kite; re-pierce them on the centre line.
Too long a kanni: shorten it so it just reaches the wingtip.
An extreme tie point, right by the nose or the tail, may stop the kite flying at all.
Slipping knots: lock both ends with a double half hitch and check the loop grips before each flight.

Frequently asked questions

Is the kanni the same as the bridle?

Yes. It is the thread tied through the spine at two points, to which you tie your dor.

What thread should I use for a kanni?

Plain cotton thread, such as a length of your cotton dor. Nylon and glass- or metal-coated thread are banned on Basant kites.

Can I tie a kanni before Basant?

Yes. Tying and indoor testing are fine at any time, but flying is legal only in Lahore on the notified days: awaiting notification (official portal: 29 Jan – 7 Feb 2027).

Why does my kite lean to one side after tying the kanni?

Usually the holes are off the centre line or one wing is heavier. A two-point kanni cannot fix a lean on its own; see how to balance a kite.