Are diamond kites, the most recognisable kite shape dying? But is certainly loosing its sheen say experts

Hyderabad, January 15, 2017: The three day Kite festival held in city at Aga Khan Academy near RGI Airport, Shamshabad concluded on Sunday. However it will continue on Monday 16th January at Yadagirigutta and at Warangal on 17th Tuesday.

Kite 2017, is the Telangana State’s second international kite festival. It is also the second biggest kite festival in India after Gujarath, disclosed B. Venkatesham, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Govt of Telangana.

After curtain raiser night flying event on Thursday night at Necklace road where remote controlled kites were demonstrated, the festival opened with a cultural program and "Entertain and Educate--Inclusive Schools Program" on Friday. The formal International Kite Festival 2017 began on Saturday and continued on Sunday with lot of expectations. Hundreds of people, families and children came and watched kites eagerly on both the days. To match their expectations were wide variety of kites, mostly flown first time during this festival. Totally different kites were flown on both days.

Some of these are biggest kites in the world. They are Ring Kite and Whale Kite. According to Pavan Solanki from Royal Kite Flying Club, Ahmedabad and an expert kite flying, the 'Ring Kite" was the biggest. That was followed by 'Whale Kite" by the France team. Both these kites are some of the biggest kites in the world. The Whale Kite is 55 meters long. A giant crocodile kite, dragon, horse, snake, tortoise, football kites were displayed on Sunday additionally to those kites which were displayed on Saturday.

On both Saturday and Sunday, quite different varieties of kites were displayed by the participants.

The four-member France team comprised of Mr. Sylvain Francois Grez; Ms. Blandine Jessica Cambon Grez; Mr. Nicolas Pierre Grez and Ms. Aline Lucette Huguette Gabillard worked hard in flying the Whale kite. It was an eye catcher to many. Many cameras clicked the monster whale kite, which was visible when flown from a kilometer distance.

Nearly 50 different models of the kites of varied size and shape were flown in the sprawling 100 acre campus of Aga Khan Academy. Some of these include, the most recognized kite shape and popular kind Diamond Kites, Parafoile, Delta, Ring, Roller, Whale, Lizard, Octopus, Rokkaku, Inflatables, Diamonds, Sleds, Traditional, Dragon, Life Like Bird Kites, Stunt, Traction kites, Snake, Tortoise, Dragon, crocodile, horse, scorpion etc were on display. The sky near RGI Airport in Shamshabad at Aga Khan Academy was painted with these models much to the delight of people in nearby places.

On display were giant lizard as if it was ready to eat you away and there was Octopus, Crocodile, Snake, Dragon too. With so many kites and kites of different shape, size including the longest Train Kite etc, the entire cricket ground in Aga Khan Academy bore a festive look. It looked very colorful. They filled the sky with colors. Children were to inquisitive to watch them.

There were traditional kites from Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia. There were static kites,. There was fighting machine such as the Japanese Rokkaku and vast 40m high inflatable kites.

According to Mr. Akio Takeda and Mr. Shohachi Shiga, The Rokkaku dako is a traditional six-sided Japanese fighter kite. It is traditionally made with bamboo spars and washi paper. The Rokkaku kite is often hand painted with the face of a famous Samurai. The structure is a vertically stretched hexagon with a four-point bridle. The Rokkaku kite, in short often called as 'Rok', is the most copied Japanese kite in the West.

The lineup of kites at the festival was impressive. Many kite enthusiasts who were flying kites showcased their flying skills by maneuvering giant kites.

The Remote Controlled kites were flown by Singapore team in the night on Saturday at Aga Khan Academy. There were so many turned up to witness the same. With the illuminated dragon and other kites, they looked pretty as they flew in to the dark sky.

There were hundreds of kites in the sky, ranging from creative and combat categories to luminous ones. The Indian kites, stood out from the rest with their marked traditional appearance. The Karnataka Team flew the longest train kite which had 100 kites tied to the string in a row.

There was a Ghatotkacha Kite designed after Ghatokacha, character in the Mahabharata

Diamond, the most recognizable kites shapes too were noticed. But, couldn’t stand out in the novel variety of kites that dominated the space. These are easy to make, very reliable to fly and perform well too. Very suitable for child flier, informed Narsing Rao, a kite enthusiast. Diamond kites enjoyed their popularity for centuries informed Pavan Solanki. They are child friendly. Not so expensive like Delta. Diamonds are challenged by the huge variety of easy-to-fly, novel alternatives which are pushed into the market by multi-million kite industry, they informed. The humble Diamond is not going to die, they added.

According to Akash, a sports kite specialist, a sports kite, which looked like a snake was on display. This is also called a fighter kite. There was an another kite which caught everybody’s attention as it started produced noise. It had 70 feet tail.

A Kite enthusiast displayed Indoor kite, which is flown without air. The sky was filled with many Parafoil kites. Parafoils are characterized by an upper and lower surface, divided into cells by vertical ribs. The cells have openings facing the breeze to keep the large kite pressurized and semi-rigid.

There were single line, dual line and Quad Line Kites also.

80year old Olekseii Zviryk from Ukrain and Wheel Chair Born Bongudala Narsing Rao, an avid kite flyer from Kohinoor Kite Flying Club, Hyderabad were star attraction

Ukraine team has brought in copy right kites, the Kherson City of Peace (KCP) kite, 800*800 mm, made of cigarette paper, with unique copyrighted emblem of Kherson community. This was introduced for the first time in the world in this festival, informed Pavlo Shmulevych from Kherson, Ukraine.

Kevin Sanders from Australia was seen flying a Dragon Kite, which he prepared himself. The 58years old former IT System Administrator is now semi-retired. And dedicates his full time for kite flying. He travels all over the world. He participates in nearly 50 to 60 Kite Flying Festivals held all over the world, more so in Asian Countries. Kite was origniated in China and is very popular in Asian countries, he informed.

My girl friend has introduced me to kite flying. Since then, for the last 25 years i have been flying kites, he informed. This is my second visit to India. There are nearly 200 professional kite flyers all over the world. But, nearly 1000 are active kite flyers. I have read books, tried to make kites on my own. Now i made many types of kites, he disclosed.

India is home to nearly 300 active kite flyers of which 70 plus are professional kite flyers, informed a representative from Royal Kite Flying Club. India has several Kite Flying Clubs. Some of themwho are participating in the festival include: Royal Kite Flying Club from Ahmedabad; Orange City Kite Flying Club from Nagpur; Anand Kite Club from Rajkot; DJ Kite Club from Vadodara,

Kohinoor Kite Flying Club from Hyderabad and Jeem Kite Club from Ahmedabad.

There are 70 Kite Flying Clubs all over the world informs Pawan Solanki of Royal Kite Flying Club. He is the expert on Kite flying in India. He represented India at several International KiteFestivals. His son Akash is a Sports Kite Specialist.

Pavan Solanki is involved in making India's largest bamboo kite designs used for world record attempt. He along with other like Gulabchand Jangid and BK Deepak Harke display this flight atBelgaum during a Brahmakumaris event. It was 205 feet height and 73 feet width. And this India's largest kite design weighed around 180 kg and plastic cloth material used was 14965 sq feet.
The Kite Festival is held in support of women’s empowerment through girl child education, Telangana Tourism and Incredible India come together with Aga Khan Academy, who have decided to stand by the wider social inclusion agenda by sharing the wonderful experience of international kite flying and the educational aspects of kites, flight dynamics and wind as a form of energy.

17 countries, 27 kite clubs, 75+ kite flyers from countries such as France, Indonesia, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Singapore, Australia, Scotland - UK, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Italy, Ukraine, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Poland are participating and flying their kites.

The Hyderabad version of the festival is concluded on Sunday evening. However, it will continue with festival at Yadagirigutta and Warangal on 16th and 17th.

The 3rd edition will be held with roping about 50 countries. The target next few years is to make this festival India’s biggest by the year 2020 and Asias’s by 2025. On this optimistic note the Hyderabad edition of the festival is concluded on Sunday.
The Festival will go on till January 17.

Festival Program – upto to 17thJanuary 2017
•Monday 16th – KITE 2017 in Yadagirigutta
•Tuesday 17th – KITE 2017 in Warangal