Kites festival decorates Bantul's skies

Fri, September 9, 2016 / 12:38 pm

+ See SlideShow

/

Judges assess the shapes and patterns of two dimensional kites at the 2016 National Kite Festival held on Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta, on Aug. 27. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

Two men try to fly the two dimensional kite at the 2016 National Kite Festival on Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

Participants of the festival arrange the strings before flying a two dimensional kite at the 2016 National Kite Festival on Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

Participants work together to fly a kite at the 2016 National Kite Festival on Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

A man holds a two dimensional kite at the 2016 National Kite Festival on Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

Two men tie the strings of a kite onto a rock. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

A participant of 2016 National Kite Festival controls his kite. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

Participants try to maintain control of their kites at the 2016 National Kite Festival on Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/ Aditya Sagita
+ See SlideShow

/

Visitors of the 2016 National Kite Festival observe kites flying in the skies of Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/ Aditya Sagita

Kites of various sizes and types from across Indonesia adorned the skies of Parangkusumo Beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta, on Aug. 27 as part of the two-day 2016 National Kite Festival held by the Indonesian Kite Creators Association [Perkalin]. Forty-five kite clubs participated in the event, in which the winner received the King's Cup from Yogyakarta's Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

Since the event launched in 2013, it has seen growing participation from kite clubs across the country. The festival not only serves as a competition and tourist attraction but it also provides knowledge to the younger generation.

The theme of this year's festival was "Archipelagic Kites Establishing Togetherness in Diversity". The theme was chosen so that the festival would not only be perceived as an art and cultural event but also as an event that promotes togetherness in diversity.

The organizing committee divided participants into five categories: traditional, two dimensional, three dimensional, rokkaku kite and dragon kite. The various categories aimed to encourage participants to be innovative in their kite creations by including special elements from their respective regions. [rin]