Date:19/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081905610200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Reviving the forgotten art of flying kites

Staff Reporter

National-level competition to be held tomorrow at Jakkur Aerodrome in Bangalore

ALL SET TO SOAR: Some of the kites that will be flown in the national kite-flying championship in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: Do you still have the child in you? If yes, here is a chance to relive your childhood passion for flying kites. "Everyone is welcome," say representatives of Kite Clinic Club, who have organised a national-level kite flying competition. The competition is scheduled for Sunday.

The contest comprises four categories, with the first one being for children below 12 years where two persons can form a group. The other categories are for 13 to 22 years (two per group), above 23 years and with no age restrictions (five per group).

The top three will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 3,000, Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 1,000 respectively and a few others will get consolation prizes in each group.

V.K. Rao, secretary of the club, says: "The winners will be picked by a panel of judges based on kite design, the complexity involved in making it and the control they execute."

"This is the third national-level competition conducted by us. We encourage people — from nursery children to their grandparents — to fly kites," he says. The club is conducting coaching camps for young people in kite making and kite flying. According to Mr. Rao, kites may be of different shapes such as snake, dragon, birds and stars, and can be made using paper, plastic or special cloth fibre.

Kite championship competitions of various levels have also been organised by the club to encourage the dying art of kite flying. Registrations for the competition on Sunday start at 9 a.m. at Jakkur Aerodrome, Bellary Road. Mr. Rao may be contacted on ph. 98456-60524 / 98440-44199.