Belgaum: Inflated balloons, heart shaped kites, and some mammoth creations took to the skies as kite flyers from around the country and abroad competed in the fourth edition of the Belgaum International Kite Festival that took off at Savgaon, on the city’s outskirts here on Saturday.
Seven teams from different nations flew some kites that were so big that it took at least four or five persons to handle them. “We are flying inflated balloon kites which look extremely attÂractive when in the sky. Such kites are flown at maÂny international kite evÂenÂts. We also have smaller heÂart shaped kites and others in different shapes for children,” said Johan Van Eeckhout and his team mate, Vinita Vij.
The teams from SinÂgaÂpore, Malaysia, Belgium, Russia and Germany have specialist kite flyers desÂigÂning kites on the spot and flying them with the help of assistants. They reveal, they intend to fly special kites over the skies of Belgaum on Saturday and Sunday nights. “The success of night kite flying deÂpeÂnds on the wind in SaÂvÂgÂaon. So far it has been steÂaÂdy and the kites are flying at the expected level,” they said.
Talented teams of kite flyers from 27 cities of the country are also showcasing their skills at the event, where over 10,000 kites will be distributed to children, women and youth on JanÂuaÂry 21 and 22, according to orÂgÂaniser of the festival and former Belgaum MLA, Abhay Patil.
Among the kite flyers was Ujal Shah, chairman and MD of Ahmedabad Kite Foundation, who has been working on a thesis on the art of kite flying with the help of the Japan FouÂndÂation University of Japan.
