Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD/JS)
Mangaluru, Jan 17: It was a perfect day for kite flying, with both weather and wind assisting the enthusiastic flyers who had assembled in large numbers at Panambur beach here on Saturday January 16 to witness the start of 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. In his address he 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."
District governor of Rotary international Zone 4 Bharathesh Adhiraj after flying the kite named 'Save Netravati' said, "I remember my childhood days when I used to fly kites on the hills. But flying kites on beach is a unique experience. Convenor of the programme Elias Sanctis has toiled hard to organize the kite festival in Mangaluru after four years. Hats off to him."
As many as 24 foreign flyers from 13 countries and 3 Indian teams from Dahanu, Mumbai and Hyderabad are participating in this festival. Team Mangalore filled the skies with the vibrant 'Vibheeshana' and their specialty kites like Kathakkali, Yaksha ,Gajaraja, Bhoota Kola, Pushpaka Vimana and Garuda.
The foreign teams are the 3-member Al-Farsi team from Kuwait led by Khaled Almeer, Bob C and Karl Long Bottom from UK, Kite Couples Sim Sarak and Yarin Cheang (Cambodia), Ron and Baew Spaulding (Thailand), Marco Herzog and Saundrine (France), Michael (whose ancestors hail from Mangaluru) and Jane Alvares (Australia), Emen Bozbey and Ferhan Bozbey (Turkey), Edo Boreghetti from Italy, Raymond De Graaf from Netherlands, Axel Kostros from Germany, Lady Flyer Gadis Widiyati and Maksum from Singapore, Lady Flyer Fredrique Pacquire from France and Oleksiy Shramko from Ukraine.
Speaking to Daijiworld, a kite flying enthusiast from France, Sandrine Paquier said, "I have been coming to Mangaluru from 15 years. Every year I come to India as it is my home away from home. I have come with my husband Marco Herzog and two daughters. I have got five small kites with me as we could accomodate only so many in the bag. Whenever I come to India we visit Mangaluru and stay at Team Mangaluru founder Sarvesh Rao's house. I have suggested him to cook french cuisine. Whenever the Team Mangaluru comes to France I make them stay in my house. I have also learnt Indian cuisine and serve the same to them."
The French couple Marco Herzog and Sandrine Paquier explore India in their motorcycle. Twenty years ago when the couple saw Team Mangaluru's kites in Allahabad kite festival they were so impressed that they invited them to the France kite festival after which Team Mangaluru recieved international recognition.
Speaking about the people of India she said, "Here people welcome us with smile. Even though they have very less and more worries, they welcome us with the smile. In France even though they have everything they do not smile much. You can find bad people everywhere. Likewise even the good people are everywhere. The only thing I do not like about Indians is littering here and there.
"India is developing very fast. Over the years we have seen much deveopement. Along with development there has to be women empowerment. It is nice to see people of all religions live in peace and harmony," she added.
Another enthusiast from team Dhahanu near Mumbai, Ashok Shah said, "I love coming to Mangaluru. This time I have come with a train kite with 100 birds in it; a 150-ft 3D tiger kite and and a 3D boat kite. Altogether I have 10 kites.
"What I like about this place are the people who come in lacs. This is like the Eden Gadren stadium for a cricketer. Nowhere in India do so many people come together and enjoy the festival with discipline without disturbing anyone. There are smiles all around."
Recalling an incident, he said, "Last time I had given a kite to person to fly. I had totally forgotten where it had been. After sometime a person (not the person I gave the kite to) came and handed over the kite back."
ABCD - AnyBody Can Do rocks Panambur beach
Later in the evening, Panambur beach was witness to a rollicking 'AnyBody Can Do' (ABCD) event organized by Madhuban Events where people showcased their talents with delightful performances.
Addressing the gathering, Yathish Panambur, convenor of Kite Festival said, "This kite festival has been possible because of the the cooperation of 14 Rotary Clubs that are in Mangaluru. It has been four years since kite festival has been organised in Mangaluru. I am thankful for the support of all the people who have made this event a successful one."
Dr Ajith D'souza, principal of Mahesh College said, "It is great to see such a huge crowd gathered here. I wish all of you very best and wish that this event be a great success."
AnyBody Can Do proved to be a platform to showcase a variety of talents, be it dance, play or any other, by people of any age. Spot entries were taken and more than 20 teams participated and showcased their talents. The participating teams were honoured with the memento and particiaption certificate. The performances will continue on Sunday January 17 as well.
Street play on drug abuse was performed by KSHEMA (Nitte) students. Mimicry by artiste Prasad sent the audience on a laughter ride.
Ramakrishna Kamath, assistant governor of Rotary, Clifford Lobo, assistant director of tourism department, Subodh Kumar Das, Suresh Kini, Krishna Raj and others were present.