Mangalore : International kite festival from January 16 at Panambur beach

Mangalore, Jan 13 (DHNS) : Want to feel the thrill of kite line in your fingers? Then just be on the shore of Panambur beach and watch hundreds of colourful kites of various sizes and shapes fluttering on the horizon of Panambur beach, virtually forming a rainbow during this weekend. 

Team Mangalore will organise international Kite festival with a theme ‘One sky, one earth, one family’ on January 16 and 17 at Panambur beach between 5 pm and 7 pm.

Addressing a press meet on Wednesday, Team Mangalore convener Giridhar Kamath said 11 foreign flyers from 5 countries—France, Germany, Holland/Netherlands, Australia, UK and four Indian flyers from Maharashtra will be participating in the festival. Team Mangalore will also fly their speciality kites like Kathakalli, Yaksha, Gajaraja and Bhoota kola.  The festival flag kite will be launched by Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj, NMPT Chairman Tamilvanan and Superintendent of Police Dr A S Rao.

Parking

He said elaborate arrangements have been made in association with the police, NMPT and district administration for the smooth flow of vehicular traffic and parking.

No Manja kites

Kamath said Manja is a specially treated thread used for Kite flying in Kite cutting competitions in Gujarat and other Northern states. Glass powder and glue is applied to the manja thread. This thread cuts through the skin and is dangerous for the  eyes, face, neck and fingers, specially of children. It also causes damage and cuts the kites of participating guest flyers, thus bringing a bad name for Mangalore in the international Flying Circles. The sale or use of manja thread is not allowed on Panambur Beach during the kite festival, he appealed.

A separate shelter will be arranged for children who are lost / found on the beach. Parents are requested to show this shelter to the accompanying children and ask them to reach this shelter in case if they are lost.

Anyone who finds a missing child may guide the child to this shelter. Names of such children would be announced on public address system on both the days.

Swimming area

Playing in the waves is fun. Locals will provide life guard services within the earmarked swimming area. However, children should be accompanied by elders.

Several stalls vending fruits, mineral water, ice cream, soft drinks and food including sea food are available on the beach as part of the ongoing Food Festival by the Panambur Beach Development Project. MCC will provide drinking water facility too. Waste bins will also be kept for the use of the public. He appealed the public to use the waste bins to keep the beaches clean.

Kites of various sizes, shapes and colours will be available for sale at the kites shops. However, manja kites are not allowed. K S Hegde Medical Academy, Derlakatte, will provide emergency medical aid and ambulance services at the festival venue.

AWITA

All Ways In The Air from France, who will be taking part in the festival, are specialised in show kites and giant kites and have the collection of giant kites in Europe. They have a collection of giant fish, giant cuttle fish, giant ray, giant penguin and giant teddy bear and some show kites (Stunt kites).

Bhoota Kola on sky

Team Mangalore’s this year’s kite is on the theme Bhootakola. The kite is designed by Dinesh Holla and Harish Kodialbail and Rip stop nylon fabric is used for the creation of the kite. The kite is 8 feet wide and 18 feet tall.

The team has used bamboo to make the kite successfully instead of carbon fiber tubes, thus making their kite unique.

Aerial photography

Nicolas Chorier, a world famous aerial photographer is expected to take part in the festival. Aerial photography is a photographic technique where photographs are taken with sophisticated equipment and also using kite. Camera will be tied to a kite and photos are taken from various elevations.