Riot of colours in the air

It is a remarkable sight to witness vibrant kites crowding the sky with their burst of colours. The spirit of Delhi will soar high as Delhi Tourism is organising its 4th Delhi International Kite Festival this year. The Festival will be inaugurated by Kapil Mishra, Minister of Tourism, Govt of Delhi on Jan 14 at 3 pm.

The three day extravaganza will create a riot of colours in the air which will attract and mesmerise the masses. Delhiites who have been indulging in this sport for many years will have a visual delight to watch out for. Professional kite flying experts from across India and World will be taking part in this year’s Kite Festival. The mascot for this event will be known as ‘Patanga’.

Famous international kite flyers from Germany, Korea, USA, China, Thailand, Ukraine, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands and Malaysia along with expert kite flyers from across India – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jaipur, Chennai, Kerala, Punjab and Delhi will participate and demonstrate their skills in this year’s Delhi International Kite Festival where one can easily spot kites of various shapes and sizes. Not only that, Delhiites will also get a perfect opportunity to savour lip smacking food from the available food stalls, which will offer various Street Foods of Delhi. Cultural Programs every evening will enthral the visitors at Delhi International Kite Festival. Also, an exhibition on the history of Kites will enlighten visitors about this age old art. 

The Festival is also geared up to host various activities like Craft Bazaar, Magic Shows, Puppet Shows, Quiz Contest, Dance Troupe performances, Band performances, Comedy Shows, On the Spot Kite Making, followed by cultural performances by various academies of Govt of Delhi. A special Kite Making Demonstration will be organised where Professional Kite Flyers will showcase their expertise and demonstrate the art of kite making. There will also be mehndi artists, candy floss makers, bi-scope machines, caricature artists, tattoo artist, balloon artist, long-man and much more to entertain visitors and ensure that they have a fun filled time at the Kite Festival.

Kite flying is a very popular fun sport in India, China and Indonesia. It is generally accepted that kites were first developed approximately 2,800 years ago in China, where materials ideal for kite building were readily available – silk fabric for sail material, fine high-tensile-strength silk for flying line, and resilient bamboo for a strong, lightweight framework, which was originally flown to measure distance, mark a rescue mission, wind testing, lifting signages and communication for military operations. The kite was said to be the invention of the famous 5th century BC Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban.

Kites play a vital role in the life of Indians as we fly kites to mark our Independence Day and to celebrate Makar Sankranti by marking the beginning of Kumbh Mela and end of Shabrimala. Apart from cultural use, it also contributes in Military Operations, Photography, Radio and Science.   

Delhi Tourism’s sole purpose to celebrate Kite Festival is to revive the fading age old tradition and give an opportunity to Delhiites to witness patangbaazi out in the open. Entry to the event is free for all.