This Independence Day weekend over the Bay of Bengal, kite history will be created! The state of Tamil Nadu welcomes kite flying culture on the most historic weekend of India as it celebrates 75 years of Independence!
What: 1st edition of the Tamil Nadu International Kite Festival.
When: August 13, 14 and 15.
Where: TTDC Ocean View, Mammalapuram, spread across 14 acres.
How: 10 teams with 100-plus kites.
Pocket pinch: Free for children and ₹150 for adults.
Online updates: www.tnikf.com.
As you look up at the sky over the Bay of Bengal this Independence Day weekend from Mamallapuram, you will witness kite history in the making! Tamil Nadu brings the international to the kite flying culture in India in a spectacular fashion with the first edition of the Tamil Nadu International Kite Festival on the most historic weekend of India as it celebrates 75 years of Independence! The event has already attracted professionals from the USA, Thailand, Malaysia and India who will be reeling and running with their custom kites, one more stunning than the other.
If you are wondering how kites can generate such a fuss and even a festival, it might surprise you to know that around the world, more adults fly kites than children and kite flying is a legitimate, well-paying professional sport!
Kites have been gradually evolving for a long time now. Today, there are more varieties available as compared to 15 years ago. More colours, more patterns, as well as more possibilities of customisation to choose from. A few decades ago, a regular kite would cost about ₹1 and the price of a slightly bigger kite would never go beyond ₹5. Now, a regular kite costs ₹5 and for bigger kites, there’s no upward limit on the price.
Thiru. Sandeep Nanduri, IAS , Director of Tamil Nadu Tourism said, “The inaugural edition of the Tamil Nadu International Kite Festival expects kite enthusiasts from the US, Thailand, Malaysia and India to participate. So far, there are 10 teams with 100-plus designer kites made using ripstop nylon. The biggest kite to be flown at the festival measures 20 feet and the smallest is around three feet. A kite shaped like the Thiruvalluvar statue and one shaped like the Mamallapuram Temple are slated to be major attractions at the Tamil Nadu Kite Festival”.
The location, the TTDC Ocean View, spread across 14 acres, promises to add to the sun and sea experience! Dedicated zones will host different segments of the event.
The festival is slated for three days. Food stalls, games, kite making workshops, contests for kids, and music performances in the evenings featuring well-known names like Thaikkudam Bridge, Rajesh Vaidya, Nithyashree, Diwakar, Karthick Devaraj and Kumaran Drums all promise to enliven the experience further.
The tourism department is all set to make this a gala event and a permanent part of the country’s tourism calendar. In fact, next year’s dates have already been set for May!
The state of Tamil Nadu is focussing intensely on tourism as a driver of growth and to this effect, has collaborated with Global Media Box, a creative promotions team, not just for the Kite Festival but also for promotions across the world. For instance, at the Leon International Balloon Festival, 2021 in Mexico, the Tamil Nadu Tourism along with Global Media Box unveiled the Tamil Nadu balloon, an 80-foot tall hot air balloon displaying images of places of tourism interest in Tamil Nadu.
So, come and be a part of tourism history. Come to the first-ever Tamil Nadu International Kite Festival. Rewind, reset and experience an amazing weekend as you watch global kite flyers paint the sky in vibrant colours!
Fun facts about Kites and Kite Flying
14th of January is International Kite Day
Each year on the second Sunday of October, kite flyers in nearly every country of the World unite and fly a kite to celebrate “ONE SKY ONE WORLD”.
People were flying kites 1,000 years before paper was invented.
Kite flying is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
More adults in the world fly kites than children.
