International Kite Day is an annual observance celebrated on January 14th of each year. Anyone would have wished to be a kite to fly over the sky.
Kites are usually found to be colorful, lightweight, decorated, which creates lift and drag on the air. The existence of kites was found several centuries ago in different parts of the world.
The constant lifts and drags of the kites will look so beautiful when seen and make anyone fall for it as to fly kites.
However, International Kite Day is not only about kites. It is celebrated as the International Kite Festival or Uttarayan that marks the start of summer in India.
History of International Kite Day:
International Kite Day has been celebrated since the year 1989. The celebration Day has been found to have originated in India.
Kite flying has been a regional event in Gujarat, a state in India for several years. The Day has been called the International Kite Festival or Uttarayan in Hindi.
The celebration is regarded as one of the biggest festivals celebrated. The date is precisely chosen as the festival of Uttarayan marks the day on which the winter begins to turn into summer.
The residents in Gujarat will begin to manufacture the kites for the festival months before the festival so that people who visit there can buy them.
Uttarayan is the sign of harvest season for the farmers and cultivators. The day is traditionally called Makar Sankranti and is the day on which the sun is back for the harvest according to the Indian calendar.
It is considered to be one of the most important harvest days in India. The festival is also a symbolism that shows the awakening of the Gods from their deep sleep.
Originally kite flying was a sport for kings which later became a popular sport for anyone who wishes to fly kites.
How to Celebrate International Kite Day:
Celebrating International Kite Day is quite simple. The first thing you need to do is to fly a kite. Learn and train to fly kites in the sky. Fly kites along with your friends to enjoy the Day more joyfully.
Anyone who is affordable can participate in the event held in Gujarat every year starting at 5 a.m. As this Day marks the harvest season, you can get to know about agriculture and the farmers too.
Let your children stay away from their tech gadgets and make them fly kites on the air. It is also essential to teach them the safety measures of flying kites.
How to observe National Kite Flying Day:
Go outside and fly a kite if weather permits. If not, make one inside. In some parts of the country, the time of year may make it difficult to fly a kite.
There are kite festivals at various periods of the year. Use today to scout out those festivals and make a plan to join in.
Tips for getting your kite up in the air and keeping it there:
- Be sure the kite is assembled correctly.
- Check the wind. Some kites require more wind and others less. Picking the right day for your kite is key. A light breeze (5-20 mph) is generally optimal.
- Be safe. Don’t fly a kite near power lines, trees, or other sky-high obstacles. Wide-open spaces are best.
- Be safer. Don’t fly in the rain.
- When launching the kite, be sure to have your back to the wind. If the wind is light, have a friend hold the kite downwind and hold your line taught, reeling in slowly until the kite launches.
- Don’t let the line out too quickly. Let the line out at the same pace the kite is gaining altitude.
Learn How to Make Kites:
Since International Kite Day falls in the middle of winter for those in the northern hemisphere, the weather might not always cooperate for kite-flying purposes.
Even so, it’s still possible to celebrate the day by preparing for it and learning how to create a kite! Make them small or large.
Even if they can’t be used immediately, they also make great decorations! Do a little online search to find out how to make some of these:
Diamond Kite: Whether flat or curved, this is the traditional shape that most people imagine when they think of kites. It may also be called an Indian Kite or a Malay Kite.
Box Kite: These might be rectangular, hexagons or other shapes. Their frames make them three-dimensional and are relatively stable.
Snake Kite: These creative kites are made with a soft head that curves down into a tail. They are often brightly decorated to resemble dragons, caterpillars, fish or other animals.
Bird Kite: This kite has a cross frame for support, and then wings that stick out the sides. Covered in paper or plastic, it resembles a bird and is often decorated with feathers, a beak and more features.
