KASARGOD: The kite festival at Bekal in Kasargod is going international this time and it has been rechristened ‘Malabar International Kite Festival’ to be held from May 5 to 7 at Pallikkara Bekal beach park. The festival which will be jointly organised by District Administration, Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) and Bekal Fort Lions club has ensured the participation of an Indonesian team and is waiting for confirmation of teams from Singapore and Malaysia. “Close to 30 big kites will fly across the Bekal beach. Three teams from Kerala, teams from Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharasthra will also take part,” said Nasar. P.M, working chairman of the festival.
One India Kite Team, Kite Life Foundation and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Kite movement are the teams participating from the state. Illuminated kite is another attraction. Apart from competition, beach sports organised by Formula One driver Musa Sharif will be an attraction. Ghazal night, local art forms Bharatnatyam, Mohiniyattam and other dance forms and musical concerts will also be held. A kite making workshop for children has also been arranged. “Last time the festival was held on a single day and close to 32,000 people thronged Pallik-kara beach,” said Mr Nasar. As a curtain raiser, lanterns would released in the sky. Last time, Kathakali Kite and other major kites such as circle kite, pilot kite, teddy bear kite, Russian kite, rainbow kites etc were a huge draw. District Collector K. Jeevan Babu unveiled logo for the event on Thursday.
