Releasing the logo of the festival here on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwara Rao said that the festival is organised by Mangalore’s own hobby group of kite makers Team Mangalore and the theme this year is ‘Global Warming’. The kite festivals held in the previous years had been great success and it has become a major tourist attraction in Mangalore, the DC added.

Speaking on the occasion, co-ordinator of Team Mangalore Giridhar Kamath said that kite flyers from UK, Holland, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, USA, France and Australia as well as many flyers from Gujarat, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are expected to participate in the festival. The purpose behind holding the festival is to bring the children outdoor from the vicious circle of school, tuition and TV, to feel the joy of being with nature. It is also an opportunity for the grown ups to relive their childhood days, he added.

The festival, sponsored by ONGC, MRPL, Karnataka Bank, Corporation Bank, SBI and Ideal Ice Cream, will be held after 3 pm on both the days.

This is the second time Team Mangalore is conducting the International Kite festival.

Last festival held in January 2005 drew a record crowd of more than one lakh people. This year’s festival is planned for two days to ease the pressure of the crowd.

Superintendent of Police Sathish Kumar, Team Mangalore Founder Sarvesh Rao, MCC Joint Commissioner Ajith Hegde and others were present on the occasion.

THE LOGO
The Logo shows six kites of different colours, raising in synergy on a white background. Five of these depict the five elements of nature while the sixth one, the black, shows the strength and authority of the human element, which if not used judiciously would also act as negative force. the logo also carries two diamonds depicting ONGC and MRPL who are the main sponsors of the event.

Photography contest
The festival provides a golden opportunity to the professional as well as amateur photographers of the region. A photography contest has been organised as part of the kite festival festival. The best 10 photographs will receive a cash award of Rs 5,000 each, announced Mr Giridhar Kamath.