Mangaluru: As the skies of Mangaluru were splashed with bright and beautiful colours of the creative kites made by people from all over the world, the reigning theme of the International Kite Festival appeared to be that of nostalgia.
Enthusiastic flyers assembled in large numbers at the Panambur beach here on Saturday, January 16 and on Sunday, January 17 to the 5th International Kite Festival, based on the theme ‘One sky, one earth, one family’.
Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada A B Ibrahim opened the festival by flying a kite on Saturday and said, “It is nice to see colourful skies. These colours represent the whole district, from coast to the Western Ghats. I wish good luck to the organizers.”
As many as 24 foreign flyers from 13 countries and 3 Indian teams from Dahanu, Mumbai and Hyderabad participated in the festival. While some of these participants were visiting Mangaluru for the first time, there were a few who have been a part of the festival since its inception in the coastal city. Team Mangalore (the organizers of the event and internationally acclaimed hobby group of kite flyers) filled the skies with the vibrant ‘Vibheeshana’ and their specialty kites like Kathakkali, Yaksha ,Gajaraja, Bhoota Kola, Pushpaka Vimana and Garuda.
‘Mangalore is our second home’
Wearing a traditional bindi, French national Sandrine Pacquier, while speaking to News Karnataka, revealed that she first came to the city 15 years ago and fell in love with the people here. “My husband Marco Herzog and I have been coming year every year since our first time. It is a beautiful place and the people here are so warm and friendly”.
It is was informed by Team Mangalore that it was this couple that recognized their talent for the first time and took them to France for their first international festival. Speaking in this regard, Pacquier said, “Mangalore is our second home and Team Mangalore is like our family. They make such beautiful kites and show so much dedication and we saw that in their kites. We knew the world deserved to see their efforts and creativity”. Speaking about her experience in the city she excitedly revealed that she made dosa’s that morning for breakfast and enjoyed doing it thoroughly.
Bob Cruikshanks, a passionate Kite flyer from UK, also spoke about his love for the city said, “People here are always smiling and want to talk. It feels good to be back here at the festival. Team Mangalore ensures that we feel at home here and keep wanting to come back every year”. Bob has been all over India for the various kite flying festivals. He and his partner Karl Longbottom specialize in Kite flying competitions and have won several of them in their years of Kite flying.
‘Panambur beach came alive in all its glory’
Mangaloreans expressed their pleasure of participating in such a fun-filled event that not only gave them a fun weekend but brought families together and refreshed some of their much cherished memories from their glorious childhood years.
Gloria Veigas, a kite enthusiast and mother of two, describing her experience at the festival said, “An amazing experience it was at the Panambur beach. Watching our Mangalorean skies dotted with kite after beautiful kites- from the Garuda to the Charlie Chaplin to witches on a broom to even a pirate ship! Truly a treat it was and an exciting day for my kids and myself as we got to fly some of these wonderful kites too. The various countries and their teams truly made for a great kite festival”, she said and added that the night kite flying was the highlight of the event as the beach came alive with lights of all kinds.
The Festival also witnessed a cultural programme ‘ABCD- Anybody can do’ during the two days of the event, in which people from all walks of life displayed their talents and entertained an excited audience.
The festival was a huge success with scores of people leaving with happy memories and hope for the same in the coming years. Team Mangalore in association with Rotary international put up a wonderful event and urged the state government and the tourism department to invest in more of such events so as to make Kite Flying not just a hobby but more of a lifestyle.
