The International Kite Festival takes off in Panambur beach.

The International Kite Festival takes off in Panambur beach.

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 16: Panambur Beach witnessed the magnificent sight of numerous kites flying in the sky during the 2-day International Kite Festival starting from January 16, Saturday. It was indeed a fun filled occasion for the people gathered on Saturday to take part in the Beach festival. Food festival organized by Yathish Baikampady and team added taste to the event.

The kite festival began when five international kite flyers flew large kites of different dimensions in the presence of dignitaries, Mr. Lakshminaryayan from MRPL and Mr. Tamilvanan Chairman of the New Mangalore Port Trust. 

Magnificent kites adorned the sky in Panambur beach as the International Kite Festival took off. The event was well organized by Panambur Beach Development Project in association with Team Mangalore, with a theme ‘one sky, one earth, one family’. The week end crowd which thronged there in thousands enjoyed the beach food festival as well as the kite festival.

Seasoned as well as amateur kite fliers from various countries participated in the event. AWITA (Always In The Air), headed by Nicolos Chorier of France, Maarteen Van Hienen from Netherlands, and Karl Hongboton from UK were present with their gorgeous kites. The teams from Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Australia have participated in the festival with different themes. The Team Mangalore flew their thematic kite known as Bootha Kola.

The French team had displayed the technique of aerial photography using a kite fitted with camera. The camera sent pictures and video to a terminal set up down below. The images were shown on the local television channels later.

Giant-sized kites as well as tiny ones dotted the sky at Panambur beach. Their attractive designs delighted the people watching on the beach. Some of the kites were designed as animals, birds, fish, and so on. The international kite fliers flew giant kites, stunt kites, teddy bear kites, aerofoil kites, and penguin kites. The local teams of Mangalore flew Bhoota Kola kites and other kites based on traditional themes. 

 

 

 

Dinesh Holla, a member of Team Mangalore, said that the foreign kite fliers had a number of giant-sized kites, but could display only a few because of lack of space and unfavorable weather conditions. 

Chorier, the head of AWITA, said that the members of his team flew kites as a hobby and were ready to participate in kite festivals all over the world. He said that they were very happy to participate in a kite flying competition in India. Van Hienen from Netherlands said that he makes nylon kites and is thrilled about participating in kite festivals. 

The International Kite Festival will draw to a close on Jan 17, Sunday. A food festival has also been arranged on the beach by Team Mangalore in collaboration with prominent hotels of Mangalore.