JOIN USThe Panambur beach is all set for the 5th International Kite Festival-2016 beginning Saturday, which is expected to attract hordes of enthusiasts.
The event is being organised by Rotary Clubs of Zone IV Mangalore, in association with Team Mangalore, a hobby group of kite-makers and flyers.
Speaking to mediapersons here, Team Mangalore coordinator Nithin Shetty said that three Indian teams from Dahanu, Mumbai and Hyderabad and 24 flyers from 13 other countries will participate in the festival. Team Mangalore, the organiser, would also fly its speciality kites like ‘Kathakali’, ‘Yaksha’, ‘Gajaraja’, ‘Bhoota Kola’, ‘Pushpaka Vimana’ and ‘Garuda’ along with its latest creation ‘Vibheeshana’ and a special ‘Save Netravathi’ kite during the event, said the coordinator.
Another co-ordinator Sarvesh Rao said night-flying of kites has also been planned on Saturday, using high-power beams. This will commence at 7 pm and go on for an hour.
As part of the fest, various cultural programmes have been arranged at the centrestage. The two-day festival concludes with a valedictory function at 7 pm on January 17, after a brief stage function to felicitate participating kite-flyers.
No manja kites
Rao made it clear that in the interest of the public, possession, sale or use of Manja thread is strictly not allowed on Panambur beach during the festival.
Foreign participants
The countries taking part in the fest – besides the Indian teams – include France, Australia, Netherlands, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Turkey, Cambodia, Nigeria, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, Italy and Ukraine. The Al-Farsi team from Kuwait will showcase its largest collection of inflatable kites.