Driving in Ahmedabad and what it does to your paint
Highway gravel, construction dust, hard water and summer sun: the local wear and tear our bays see every week.
Uttarayan week: looking after your car
Kite string, terrace crowds, bird droppings and fireworks: how to keep your car’s paint safe through the kite festival.
Uttarayan, on 14 and 15 January, is Ahmedabad’s favourite festival. Every terrace in the old city and the newer societies fills with families flying kites from dawn till dusk. It is also, every year, one of the busiest weeks for small scratches and stains on cars.
The biggest risk is manja, the glass-coated kite string. Cut kites drift down with long lengths of it, and when it is dragged across a bonnet or roof by the wind, it leaves fine scratches. Park in a covered spot if you can, or under a fitted car cover held down at the wheels. Do not pull trapped string off the car; cut it free and lift it away.
Terraces also mean people and food above your car. Spilled soft drinks, chikki and undhiyu, and the bird droppings that follow, are acidic and etch paint in the January sun within a day or two. Rinse them off as soon as you see them with plain water and a soft microfibre, without rubbing hard. A coated car resists this better, but still needs washing.
In the evening, sky lanterns and fireworks add the risk of hot ash. If you live in the walled city around Khadia or Raipur, where the celebrations are densest, consider parking a little away from the rooftops for the two days. After the festival, a gentle hand wash is enough for most cars. If you see fine scratches in the sun, book an inspection; light marks often polish out in an hour or two.
