Belgaum: Come the weekend and the sky over Belgaum will be bathed in a myriad of colours with mammoth kites filling it as the four-day Belgaum International Kite Festival kicks off at Saogaon on Saturday.
With most of the noted kite-flyers of the world arriving at the venue, the city is in for a visual treat.
Besides many noted kite-flying clubs from various parts of the country, seven foreign teams have already confirmed their participation and are expected to arrive in Belgaum soon.
Kite-flyers from Singapore, Malaysia, Belgium, Russia and Germany will be flying some of the biggest and most unique kites ever seen, says former Belgaum MLA, Abhay Patil, who is organising the festival.
He expects it to draw at least three to four lakh spectators from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.
“Most of the top Indian kite-flyers, who have already made a mark at various international festivals in the world, will be the cynosure of all eyes. Some of them have the best kites and will fly them at night. The kite-flyers from Russia and Singapore will be showcasing some specially made kites at night on January 18 and 19,” he reveals.
School and college students will be able to compete in a separate kite-flying event during the festival and women and children too will have their own slots in the contest on the last two days. “More than 10,000 kites will be distributed free of cost to all the children interested in flying kites at the event.
There will also be kite flying for families on the final day to popularise the sport,'' adds Patil.
The finale will include a one hour spectacular fireworks display.
