Mangaluru gears up for spectacular international Kite festival at Tannirbavi beach

Team Udayavani, Feb 10, 2024, 2:10 PM IST

Kite enthusiasts and beach lovers are in for a treat as the highly anticipated International Kite Festival returns to Tannirbavi Beach on February 10th and 11th. Organized by Team Mangalore after a three-year hiatus, the festival promises two days of mesmerizing kite-flying displays against the backdrop of the scenic sea waves.

Preparations for the event are in full swing, with Team Mangalore having completed preliminary arrangements. Spectators can expect an array of colorful kites filling the skies from 3 pm to 7 pm on both days.

A highlight of this year’s festival is the special arrangement for kite flying illuminated by colored electric lights until 10 pm on the first day. Embracing the theme of ‘One Sky, One Earth, One Family’, the festival aims to foster harmony and unity among participants. Over 1,000 kites of various designs and sizes are anticipated to grace the skies, with sponsorship from MRPL-ONGC and support from D.K district administration and tourism department as noted by Team Mangalore founder B. Sarvesh Rao.

To facilitate transportation for visitors, six special bus services will operate from near KIACL to Tannirbavi Beach until 10 pm. Additionally, boats will ferry attendees from Sultan Batheri until the same time. Various amenities, including an emergency contact counter, ambulance services, fire assistance, food stalls, and kite stalls, will be available on-site for the convenience of attendees.

Inaugurating the festival on February 10th at 5 pm will be D.K. District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, along with the presence of D.K. District Collector Mullai Mugilan, NMPA President Venkataramana Akkaraju, and Deepak Shenai of Medec Medicare. Notable figures such as Subhash Pai, Pran Hegde, and Dinesh Holla were also present at the press conference announcing the event.

In a bid to ensure safety and environmental consciousness, the festival organizers have banned the use of Manja Kite . Spectators can marvel at the sight of special kites such as Kathakali, Yaksha, Gajendra, Bhutakola, Garuda, Pushpaka Vimana, and Vibhishane kites, alongside innovative Aerofoil kites. Prashanth Upadhyay of Team Mangalore highlighted the diverse range of traditional, modern, and artistically designed kites set to take flight.

The international flair of the festival will be evident with representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Greece, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Vietnam, and Estonia participating alongside delegates from India’s Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Kerala. With participants from eight countries and regions across India, the International Kite Festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of kite-flying culture and camaraderie.