A wide variety of kites of contrasting colours and shapes dominated the skyline at the kite festival held at Malpe beach here on Sunday.
The fest, organised as part of the State-level folk dance festival by the Kadiyali Sarvajanika Ganeshotsava Samiti at Malpe beach, attracted a large number of people.
The kites were of different shapes such as elephant, birds, penguin, clown fish, owl, monkey, train kite, inflatable frog and others. They were demonstrated by the Ashok Designer Kites team from Dahanu, Maharashtra.
The team, founded by Ashok Shah, has done over 200 kite shows in different parts of the country. Mr. Shah was attracted to kites as a six-year old child.
He has designed various types of kites including modern hi-tech kites including 3D box kite, parafoil kites, flexi foils, two line and four-line stunt kites.
Mr. Shah has also held several kite workshops. “To do a good show, we require steady wind. Then the kites will fly beautifully in the sky,” he said even as he was encouraging his five-member team here.
People both adults, but mostly children, kept their eyes glued to the various types of kites in the sky here. They were all praise for the event.
Visitors’ comments
Ganesh Nayak, who works in the Orthopaedics Department at Kasturba Medical College, had come to see the kites with his family. “These kites are beautiful. I am watching it for the first time. I wish there are more such kite festivals at the beach here,” he said.
Pranav, a student of Class 6 at Madhav Kripa School, said, “I am enjoying the kite festival. I like it and want to be here all the time.”
Abdul Shukur, a partner at an aluminium fabrication in Malpe, said that he always came to the beach with his son and daughter whenever there was a kite festival. “My children love it. I too like it,” he said.
Competition
Meanwhile, 41 teams from across the State participated in the folk dance competition on the beach and entertained the people.
