Weifang (China) International Kite Festival

Weifang, a small city in Shandong Province, China, is known as the “Kite Capital of the World”. It is also considered the birthplace of kites. Every year, in April, the city hosts the Weifang International Kite Festival, which is believed to be the biggest kite festival in the world.

Dragon kites are most commonly seen in the sky at this week-long festival, which features a variety of kite-flying competitions, that also includes a battle of the giant kites.

Hamamatsu Giant Kite Festival, Japan

The Hamamatsu Giant Kite Festival is held every year in the first week of May in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The festival started in the 16th century, when large kites were flown in celebration for the birth of the son of the Lord of Hamamatsu Castle. The unique, giant kites of Japan are rectangular, they can be as large as 3.5 metres by 3.5 metres.

The International Kite Festival, Gujarat, India

The international kite festival in Gujarat, also known as Uttarayan, is related to the festival of Makar Sankranti. Every year, the celebrations begin on January 13 and continue for three days. The festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into spring. During this festival, colourful kites of all shapes and sizes cover the sky as thousands of people from all over the country come together to fly kites and celebrate. The festival also features kite-making competitions, kite-flying demonstrations, and traditional music and dance performances.

Bali Kite Festival, Indonesia

One of the most popular festivals in Bali, Indonesia, is the Bali Kite Festival that takes place every July. Hundreds of people from across Indonesia and from around the world compete in this festival which started as a prayer to the gods for a good harvest.

The festival features a variety of competitions, such as traditional Balinese kite-flying and modern kite-flying competitions. Traditional Balinese kites are huge, measuring up to four by 10 metres, while some have 100-metre-long tails. Some kites even have a vibrating bow called a ‘guwang’, whose humming can be heard from the ground.

Festival of the Winds, Sydney, Australia

The Festival of the Winds or the Sydney Kite Festival, is Australia’s biggest kite festival and one of the most popular festivals in Sydney, which takes place every year on September 11. The festival features traditional Australian kite-flying and modern kite-flying competitions. On this day, everyone is invited to bring their kites to fly and mingle with the experts.

International Kite Festival of Washington

The International Kite Festival of Washington takes place in the resort city of Long Beach, every August. It is organised each year by the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame. The festival features a variety of kite-flying competitions, including traditional American kite-flying and modern kite-flying.

Kite flying in Pakistan and the Basant Festival

Kite fighting, also known as Gudi-bazi or Patang-bazi, is a very popular pastime in Pakistan. It is an important part of spring festival known as Basant or Jashn-e-Baharaan (Spring Festival), which is celebrated in early February, marking the beginning of spring.

Historically, during the 19th century, Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to hold an annual Basant fair and introduced kite flying as a regular feature of the various fairs including fairs at Sufi shrines. The association of kite flying with Basant soon became a tradition with the centre in Lahore which remains the regional hub of the festival throughout Punjab even today. However, the festival has also been traditionally celebrated in other parts of Punjab, including Indian Punjab. As the days passed, the festival began to be celebrated all over the country.

During the festival, the city sky is filled with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes that are flown from rooftops. The kites are flown on strings called “dorr” which is embedded with thin shards of glass that cuts the thread of competitor kites more efficaciously.

Men, women and young people alike participate in various activities that take place other than the kite flying competitions during this time.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 3rd, 2023