A father and son enjoying the sight of a white tiger kite being flown by the Buhamad team from Kuwait at the International Kite Festival in Dubai on Friday. - KT photos by Muaz Shabandri
Dee Troup, British expatriate, had brought along her two-year-old daughter Maddie to the festival as the little one joined her parents with a small kite of her own. “This is the first time she is flying a kite and she seems to enjoy it a lot. I am surprised it’s so windy and we didn’t expect to fly kites in Dubai ever. It’s a wonderful surprise,” said Dee as she enjoyed with her family.
For Elise Allain from the US and her friends, the colourful kites flying across the sky were a wonderful way to start the weekend. “There is very little you can do on a Friday morning and there was no way we could miss this festival. Most countries have kite festivals and it is a great sport which needs to be promoted here,” said Elise.
The centrepiece of the attractions was a large kite flown by a team of professionals from India. Crafted from wood and cloth, the kite owned by ‘Team Mangalore’ has officially been acknowledged the largest kite in Asia.
Kites of all sizes and shapes made their way to the festival as families set out for a fun-filled afternoon. Ali and Ammar Buhammed, representing the Kuwaiti team, were in high spirits as the breezy weather was right for kite-flying.
“It’s very windy and we have decided to tie the kites with the FJ cruiser of one of our friends. Anchoring the large kites to our body can be challenging in this weather,” said Ammar.
Flying seven kites for the show, the blue teddy bear and white tiger were one of the first kites displayed at the festival.
“We get the kites designed by professionals in New Zealand and take them with us whenever we travel for shows. It’s a hobby for us and it is a great way to relax and enjoy with people who are learning to fly kites for the first time,” said Ammar. For David Gomberg, a kite-flying professional from the US, the windy weather was a perfect match for the kites he had brought along with his teammate Jim Martin.
“Flying large kites is always popular with the crowds. The octopus is one of the most popular designs we have and it’s always a hit,” said David.
Kite enthusiasts continued to make their way to the mall and the designated flying area as the professional teams showcased their creations.
For Faisal Khan and Dilnaaz Khan, the sport has always held a special place in the family. “The month of January is known for kite flying in India and we always make it a point to travel and attend the festivities. We are very happy to see the same vibes and feel in Dubai and this is something special for us,” said Dilnaaz.
The event is being hosted as part of the festivities during the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival.
0 comments:
Post a Comment