Bangkok: Team Mangalore Shines as 'Star of the Show' at Int'l Kite Fest
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangkok
Bangkok, Mar 30: “Team Mangalore”, the city-based hobby group of kite flyers officially invited by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to represent India at the 11th Thailand International Kite Festival spent six days at Rama VI camp, cha-am, Petchburi, Thailand, recently.
In all 30 countries participated in the festival. Nitin J Shetty, Sarvesh Rao, Prashanth K, MRPL and Vasanth Sanil, KIOCL of Team Mangalore was the only team representing India.
The festival was inaugurated by the director of TAT which was followed by 20 parachuters jumping down to the venue. Kite Flying was over a period of three days and was witnessed by the local people, who came to the venue from distances of upto 500 miles.It was a festive atmosphere where the public spent the full day at the venue since there were food and beverage stalls all around.
The team displayed and flew special kites such as Yakshagana, Kathakali, Gajaraja, Charlie Chaplin, Owl and Bharatnatyam and such other varieties of kites to spread culture of India. They also conducted kite workshops on two days for the children and taught them to make Indian fighter kites. The festival had night flying of kites with laser lights put on.
The farewell and thanksgiving function was on a cruise on the river in Bangkok and addressed by the governor of TAT. The Indian team extended traditional honour to the TAT governor and the organizers Ron Spaulding and Baew Spaulding. The organizers termed Team Mangalore as "The star of the show".
It may be recalled here that the team had earlier been to France, England and Canada, winning “Best International Kite“ award for its fabulous kite collections. The ‘Kathakali’ kite of Team Mangalore has found its place in the Limca Book of Records for being the “Largest Kite in India”.
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