Sita Julianti smiled after successfully flying her kite at the Giant Kites Festival in Jakarta Garden City area in Cakung, East Jakarta, on Sunday.
The 11-year-old girl tried hard to keep her kite fluttering high in the sky. But she did not give up even though the wind brought it down several times.
"I like playing with kites a lot. It's really fun. I painted this kite by myself," Sita said, pulling the thread to keep the kite high.
"Sometimes it's not easy to fly a kite because you should know where the wind blows," she said, without turning her eyes from the kite.
Sita was one of dozens of elementary students participating in the one-day festival held by property company Keppel Land.
The aim of the festival is to preserve the culture of kite flying, especially in big cities like Jakarta, Marius Herry Setiadi from Keppel Land said.
During the event, the children did not only have the chance to fly kites, but they could also compete in a kite painting competition.
Furthermore, members of the Indonesian Kite Association flew attractive kites, including giant ones.
The colorful kites were shaped like animals, such as frogs and cobras, and Javanese wayang characters, such as Petruk and Anoman.
Association member Antonius Hermawan said the association actively held workshops on making and painting kites in elementary schools across Jakarta.
"We teach the students to play with kites in playgrounds, like soccer fields. We tell them not to fly kites near busy streets, electricity masts and airports because it is too dangerous for them," Anton said.
"We also tell them to wear hats when they play under the heat of sun and to drink a lot of water so they don't get dehydrated."
In the meantime, he expressed his concerned on the lack of playgrounds in the city.
"It is now hard for children to find a spacious playground to play with kites. There are very few playgrounds left in the city," Anton said.
"The city administration pays less attention to the children. It should build more children's facilities, like playgrounds, instead of just erecting office buildings or shopping centers."
The lack of playgrounds also forces Sita to fly her kite in paddy fields near her house in Cakung.
"There is actually a soccer field near my house, but it is too small. I prefer to play in the paddy fields, which are more spacious," Sita said.
"Well, I know that it is not the best place to fly kites. It is always muddy in the rainy season, but I have no place to go.
"I wish there were more spacious and better playgrounds in my neighborhood," she said.
Sita's friend, six-year-old Fahri, agreed. He said he had no choice but to fly his kite in a small soccer field near his house.
"Sometimes my kite gets caught in a tree or electricity masts. It is really annoying, but I keep playing in the field because it is the only playground in the area."
