World Famous India’s International Kite Festival comes to Sydney

By Raj Natarajan

In the history of flight, the first lighter-than-air balloon (1783) and the first powered aircraft (1903) are very recent when compared with the age of kites. The exact date and origin of the kite is not known but it is believed that they were flown in China more than two thousand years ago. One legend suggests that when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was born.

Marco Polo carried stories of kites to Europe around the end of the 13th century. Illustrations of the period show non-flying dragon kites on military banners. Sailors also brought kites back from Japan and Malaysia in the 16th and 17th centuries. Kites were regarded as curiosities at first and had little impact on European culture.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, kites were used as vehicles and tools for scientific research.

Men like Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Wilson used their knowledge of kite flying to learn more about the wind and weather. Sir George Cayley, Samuel Langley, Lawrence Hargrave, Alexander Graham Bell, and the Wright Brothers all experimented with kites and contributed to development of the airplane. The US Weather service flew kites designed by William Eddy and Lawrence Hargraves to raise meteorological instruments and cameras.

One of the strangest uses of kite power was developed by schoolmaster George Pocock. In 1822, he used a pair of kites to pull a carriage at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Some of his kite trips were recorded at over 100 miles. And because road taxes at the time were based on the number of horses a carriage used, he was exempted from any tolls!

The earliest evidence of Indian kite flying comes from the mention of this festival in the Rigveda which dates back more than 5000 years. The day marks the beginning of the auspicious six-month period known as Uttarayana. The symbolism of this festival is to show the awakening of the Gods from their deep sleep. Through India’s history, it is said that India created the tradition of kite flying by the kings and royals, later followed by nawabs, who found the sport entertaining, and as a way to display their skills and power. Over time, as the sport became popular, it began to reach the masses miniature paintings from the Mogul Period around 1500. A favourite theme was of a young man skillfully using his kite to drop messages to a lover who was being held in strict seclusion from him and the rest of the world.

There are many stories about how the people of Micronesia used leaf kites to carry bait far out over the water where the gar-fish fed. The Polynesians have myths about two brother gods introducing kites to man when they had a kite duel. The winning brother flew his kite the highest. There are still contests in the islands where the highest flying kite is dedicated to the Gods.

In India festival of Uttarayan marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, according to the Indian calendar. It is the sign for farmers that the sun is back and that harvest season, Makara Sankranti/Mahasankranti, is approaching. This is considered one of the most important harvest days in India as it also marks the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season.

In India, especially in the state of Gujarat and also many other states, Uttarayan is such a huge celebration that it has become a public holiday in India lasting two days. During the festival, local food such as undhiyu (a mixed vegetable including yam and beans), chikki (sesame seed brittle) and jalebi (sweet) are served to the crowds. Days before the festival, the market is filled with participants buying their supplies.

The International Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Gujarat. Months beforehand, homes in Gujarat begin to manufacture kites for the festival. In 2012, the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat mentioned that the International Kite Festival in Gujarat was attempting to enter the Guinness World Records book due to the participation of 42 countries in it that year.

The Kite Festival is celebrated in many cities of Gujarat, but the International kite event takes place in Ahmedabad (kite capital of Gujarat), which attracts visitors from many nations. In the 2012 event, the International Kite Festival was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Governor Kamla Beniwal.

Following are some of the most popular kite festivals of the world:

• Japan Kite Festival in Uchinada, Ishikawa
• China Kite Festival called Weifang International Kite Festival
• Jakarta Kite Festival in Pangandaran
• Washington D.C. International Kite Festival, formerly called Smithsonian Kite Festival, and now known as the Blossom Kite Festival
• Indonesia Kite Festival in Bali island, Bali Kite Festival
• United-Kingdom Kite Festival in Bristol city, Bristol International Kite Festival
• Netherlands Kite Festival in Valkenswaard

As a part of Azadi  Ka Amrit Mahotsav (Celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence) , Indian Cultural Association, Sydney in collaboration with Swamy Vivekananda Cultural Centre of Consulate General of India, Sydney organized the first Kite Flying Festival in Sydney on Sunday, the 8^th May 2022 at the Castle Hill Show Ground. The huge turnout at the festival was a testimony to the popularity of the festival amongst the Indian Australian Community. Thousands of people enjoyed a sunny Sunday full of music, food and fun.

This is a fantastic initiative by the Indian Cultural Association, Sydney and Swamy Vivekananda Cultural Centre to introduce to the wider Australian communities the beauty and richness of this Indian Culture. It is anticipated that this will be an annual event in future.