1,000 paintings fly at int'l kite festival
1,000 paintings fly at int'l kite festival
JAKARTA (JP): One thousand paintings by school children were
joined together and launched like a long kite to enliven the
opening of the Jakarta International Kite Festival yesterday.
The flying of the colorful kite, called Seribu Karya di Udara,
by Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, was
one of the attractions at yesterday's opening of the annual kite
festival.
Held at the National Monument square, Central Jakarta, the
festival will run till July 2. About 150 local and foreign kite
flyers are participating; 20 from Indonesia, 15 from Malaysia and
about 80 from another eight countries.
Organizing chairwoman Sari Madjid said 10 countries were
taking part in the kite festival, including Indonesia, Australia,
Austria, Brunei Darussalam, France, Japan, the Netherlands, the
Philippines and Singapore.
"Malaysia came as the largest (foreign) group with 19 kite
flyers," Sari said.
She said each country had turned up with an average of 10
kites for the fifth festival held in Jakarta.
For the festival's opening, Sari said a fighting kite
competition for local kite flyers would also be held.
There are three categories for the contest: ornamental kites,
traditional kites and fighting kites.
In his address, Wardiman said he hoped the festival "could
intensify the country's tradition in flying kites" besides being
a venue for innovation.
Sari said the festival was intended to nurture Indonesia's kite
tradition among domestic and foreign kite lovers.
"It is also an annual meeting arena for national and
international kite flyers here," she said.
Roddy Williams from Australia said this year was the fourth
time he had taken part in the festival here.
"This time I hope I can win," he said.
Marja van Beek of the Netherlands said she had participated in
international kite festivals several times in other countries,
but she and members of her team were participating in Indonesia
for the first time.
"We have prepared 10 big kites for the festival," van Beek
said.
Besides for playing, kites have long been part of ritual
processions in Bali, according to a short history of kites
prepared by organizers. (03)