Array of kites gives a new look to the sky in Tannirbhavi Beach

Skies in Tannirbhavi Beach were filled with array of kites on January 17, when the two-day International Kite Festival commenced
| Photo Credit:
H.S. Manjunath

Chain of kites showing heart displayed at the Tannirbhavi Beach on January 17, when the two-day International Kite Festival commenced
| Photo Credit:
H.S Manjunath

The kite made by kite-flyer Bhavna Shailesh Mehta in collaboration with UK kite flyer Bob C on display at the Tannirbhavi Beach during the International Kite festival, which commenced on January 17
| Photo Credit:
H S Manjunath

Kite flyer Bhavna Shailesh Mehta speaks about her kites displayed at Tannirbhavi beach during the two-day International Kite Festival, which commenced on January 17
| Photo Credit:
H.S. Manjunath

Veteran kite-flyer Abdul Rauf Khan from Mumbai with his chain of kites displayed during the two-day International Kite Festival, which commenced at Tannirbhavi Beach in Mangaluru on January 17
| Photo Credit:
H.S. Manjunath

Five days ago, it was the kite made by kite-flyer Bhavna Mehta, in collaboration with a German kite-flyer, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz flew during the kite festival on the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

On Saturday, Ms. Mehta was at the Tannirbhavi Beach to display her kite, which has been made in collaboration with Avionics Engineer-turned-kite flyer Bob C from the U.K. Ms. Mehta made two paintings of two Japanese Koi fish in fresh water, to which Mr. Bob has tied threads to fly on the Tannirbhavi beach during the 9th edition of two-day International Kite Festival, which commenced on Saturday.

Ms. Mehta’s another 5 foot X 4 foot size painting showing a wolf’s face in Doodle form was also in the sky. Ms. Mehta’s husband Shailesh Harinarayan Mehta, another avid kite-flyer, attached sticks and threads to put it up in the sky.

As many as 62 kite-flyers, including 30 from abroad, are participating in the festival organised by Mangaluru’s kite-flying enthusiasts Team Mangalore, in association with District administration.

Among the other flyers who displayed their kites, included the veteran kite-flyer 76-year-old Abdul Rauf Khan from Mumbai, who has brought as many as 150 kites to the festival. Another veteran Mahesh Chavada from Rajkot arrived with his son Yash Chavada and nephew Shubham Kamdar to display an array of kites showing different animals and popular cartoon characters.

Some of kite-flyers, including Guilherme Linares Palau, went out of the designated area to display their kites. “We like to be with people. Hence, I preferred displaying my kites outside the earmarked area,” said Mr. Palau, who allowed people to have a feel of his kites that displayed popular cartoon character Pinocchio, sea gull and daisy flower. Mr. Palau attracted many visitors by wearing a peculiar native headgear.

With wind flowing low, flyers Clare Louise Hardwick from the UK and Gheno Sandra from Canada displayed only few of the kites they had brought. Instead of the heavy kite showing Nemo fish, kite-flyer Sandrine from France flew the light kite in the shape of a heart. Machacek Jan Helmut from Germany displayed the kite in the shape of an astronaut.

Speaker U.T. Khader inaugurated the festival. The kite display started at 3 p.m. and went on till 9 p.m. On Sunday, the display will be between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. MLC Ivan D’Souza, Deputy Commissioner H.V.Darshan, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Narwade Vinayak Karbhari went around to have glimpse of kites on Saturday.