The 8th ONGC-MRPL International Kite Festival took place on January 18 and 19 at Thannirbhavi Beach, Mangaluru, with district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundurao inaugurating the event. Organized by Team Mangalore, a passionate group of kite flying enthusiasts, this festival is an integral part of Karavali Utsava, a celebration of the vibrant Dakshina Kannada culture. It seamlessly blends tradition, creativity, and global connections, embodying the spirit of Tulunadu.
This year’s festival featured 22 international kite flyers from 10 countries, including the UK, Greece, Germany, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Estonia, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, and Indonesia. Alongside them, 30 Indian kite enthusiasts from Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala showcased their skills. The festival highlighted various types of kites, from traditional to aerofoil and inflatable designs, with a special emphasis on quad-line sports kites. A stunning addition was the Greek stunt kite performances, which added excitement to the event.
Team Mangalore also displayed regional cultural representations such as Kathakali, Yaksha Garuda, Pushpaka Vimana, and Vibhishana, celebrating the local heritage. Visitors like Pavan and his wife, who traveled from Bengaluru after discovering the event on social media, were captivated by the sight of colorful kites filling the sky.
Subhash Chander, an avid kite lover from Odisha, brought a remarkable 100-meter-long dragon kite to the festival. This unique creation, which took three years to complete, is being flown in Mangaluru for the first time. Subhash, along with his team, has traveled across India spreading the joy of kite flying.
Several prominent figures, including MLC Manjunath Bhandary, Congress leader Mithun Rai, and others, attended to lend their support.
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