Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 18: The 8th ONGC-MRPL International Kite Festival, held on January 18 and 19 at Thannirbhavi Beach, Mangaluru, was inaugurated by district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundurao.
Organized by Team Mangalore, a group of dedicated kite enthusiasts, the festival is a significant part of Karavali Utsava, celebrating the vibrant culture of Dakshina Kannada. The event is a remarkable blend of tradition, creativity, and international camaraderie, reflecting the essence of Tulunadu.
This year’s festival featured 22 international kite flyers from 10 countries, including the UK, Greece, Germany, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Estonia, Italy, Sweden, Portugal, and Indonesia.
Along with them, 30 Indian kite flyers from Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala also participated. The festival highlighted various types of kites, from traditional and aerofoil designs to inflatable ones, with a special focus on quad-line sports kites. Greek stunt kite performances added a dynamic touch to the event.
Team Mangalore proudly showcased their cultural creations, such as Kathakali, Yaksha Garuda, Pushpaka Vimana, and Vibhishana, reflecting the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Pavan and his wife travelled from Bengaluru to experience the spectacle after discovering the event on social media. “We didn’t hesitate for a second to book our tickets and explore Mangaluru,” Pavan said, delighted by the sight of the kites filling the sky.
Subhash Chander, a passionate kite enthusiast from Odisha, traveled with a team of five to showcase their massive 100-meter-long dragon kite. This kite, which took them three years to create, is being flown in Mangaluru for the first time. Subhash and his team have an impressive collection of 60,000 kites. Having been on the road for the past two months, Subhash has traveled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, spreading the joy of kite flying across India.
Prominent figures, including MLC Manjunath Bhandary, Congress leader Mithun Rai, Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan, District Superintendent of Police Yathish, Zilla Panchayath CEO Dr Anand, MRPL president Nandakumar, Mayor Manoj Kumar, and MUDA President Sadashiva Ullal, were present at the event to show their support.