THE KITIST : 2019-01-27

A day with Jatayu, The World's Largest Bird Sculpture

Jatayu, the largest bird in the epic, Ramayana synonymous to be known for strength and vigil and so valiantly to fight with to rescue Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, from the devil hands of Ravana while abducting Sita.

Because Jatayu was old and Ravana got a better of him and he cut the wings of Jatayu. Wounded and tired Jatayu was given Moksha by Lord Rama when they met each other on the rock and instances of Jatayu and Rama along with lakshmana then traverse to South as Jatayu said Ravana took Sita to that direction. Jatayu Para, as it is locally known still has many where about and indications of Jatayu fell on the rock and has a stretched mark of his beak and place where Lord Rama's footprint. A Rama temple is also situated, a centuries old. Today, the rock turn out to be a one of its kind built in the purpose of pilgrimage, Siddha wellness, Tourism and adventure park. Situated 1000ft above sea level, undoubtedly, the highest of this peak going to be favorite spot for tourism for sure.

World's largest monumental Bird Sculpture is to be believed. Cable cars which is another sight of height one would see the ground and its extremely mesmerizing. When you reach in the height you will see Jatayu and whole site of mountains and if possible, try to see the sun rise straight on to your widen eyes from the mountain far away. Its the first site. as a far i am concern, i almost forgot that am there for the kite flying, because i never saw such sunrise. My eyes are still wide open. Hey there are more in the bucket list. Adventure Centre where you unleash your strength, seriously. just to see your power to show YOU CAN DO IT. Rock Climbing...oh no but Rappelling what i did first in my life..yes really enjoyed it. All the gears fit in so the security and safety is ensured besides, Commando operational exercise, Paint balls, Archery, Gun shooting, etc etc.. we had our chance in tried Archery & Shooting. we could do some of the best. An eco-friendly location covered by almost three rocks active in various activities. Air water which is produced out in the moist from the atmosphere is a delight for the thirst never ending. A machine is installed to serve water and its filled in the bottles.

Flying a kite at the Jatayu's centre is a life time highlight and memory

Some of the vibrant yet mesmerizing pictures on the height of Jatayu

Media Scoring

We have 130 odd school children who came all the way to make and fly kites, no i did not forget..we are doing it. just a while... yes again on the top of rock.. on the centre of amphi theatre. Participants were given DIY kit and they began doing it on my guidance and end result they were flying kites near and close to the world's largest bird, flying for a dedication he endeared to his Lord thru his power, care and protect for women. . Yes that's the main thing, one should see the window to the Museum, though its not open will take time as said by October is dedicated to the women safety and security... Jatayu is giving us a lesson, sincerely if you look at this point you know... As a kite flier i always wanted to have a rendezvous with Jatayu's rock, hence i had my jatayu kite and that flown as mark of my respect to epic bird. I have my plans to make another big one and possibly i will come back to fly that along with Ravana my new gaint kite shortly.

My meeting with Mr. Rajeev Anchal, the popular sculptor and ace director of Malayalam film industry who thought with his concept has narrated about his vision. Jatayu Park is his brain child. He took long ten years to accomplish. I loved it. Mr. Deepak Sunil, COO of the Jatayu Earth centre who guided us from the start to finish and team of Jatayu really deserve a good load of applause. Times of India, who organised it with the support of Kerala Tourism.

Mr. Balakiran, Director of Tourism along with Mr. Rajeev Anchal flown the Giant kites followed by 130 kites up by the participants of the day from Jyothis Central School, Kazhakkoottam. Programe was a grand successful.

Thanks for all the noble souls to have entrusted us in the conduct of kite making and kite flying fest on the highest peak of rock. Jai Jatayu, see you soon.

Photo courtesy - Rama

30th International Kite Festival Ahmadabad, Gujarat. 5-14, Jan 2019

It's the 30th year the kite festival of Gujarat, in its state capital that organises by the Government of Gujarat ( Tourism) and celebrates festival on the international level. Organised on the bank's of Sabarmathi River on the specially placed green carpet beginning 5- 14th of Jan every year with others 10-12 locations with separate teams travelling to the far-flung putting together a massive show spinning12-13 days.

Every kid in Gujarat brings kites as a matter of pride, unity with his/her friends and families wholesomely treat and bring their fellowship of having kite flying, a mark of festivity in the wake of Uttarayan, the sun when traverse to northern hemisphere consider as a mark of retreat to the winter and people celebrates kite flying. This also coincides the arrival of harvest season.

To specify, the kite filled in the sky is not a fun unless it's consider to be a fight. So the fight is by flying a kite and turn fighting and wins by cutting the kite of opponent. Therefore, they use abrasive thread which now produced by some companies as well street vendors work in order and you visually see how it's made, the technique that is judiciously using powdered glass powder mixed with gums produced organically and paste it into thread to make it a stiff thread and ready to place amongst kiters.

This is a big economic drive in Gujarat as well kites that are made and available in the kite market. Boasted to be worth of a size amounting to INR 700cr plus in the festivity time. Thread market especially manjha trade is huge those for domestically made( cotton thread and pasted) but the invasion of Chinese manjha the market made more vulnerable. Use of such manjha ( mono filament) paused a threat after its use in kite fighting. This is banned in India and if found then it's punishable as offence as per the directions from Supreme Court of India. But still people discretely use it to win the game. The dangerous situation alleviate with left overs of thread that tangled in a bridge, electric post, trees, buildings or even on ground when people or birds come in contact. It develops bruises and possible to succumbed to serious injuries.we cannot endorse to the fact that harm people. We are different and stand united to bring happiness in flying thru our show kites which speaks for itself. Often the manjha that pause threat to our flying objects also. If such is in the view even from far then we immediately land our kites back, as we can't afford.

Personally I dont vouch for any kite fighting as am seriously involved in the show kiting in India and abroad. The pics only to show case the the way its being made in the busy streets during Uttarayan. Just for info only.

Photo courtesy Mr. Adres Sokk of Estonia.

You must visit kite market especially on the day before night of Uttarayan. Every year, uttarayan falls on the makara sankanti day I.e January 14th. Conventional kite flying and cutting begins on the day of utarayan. The manjha, which is used in " khanni bhandke n page ladane ' begins with furore when kite got cut down by opponent loudly declare "KaiPoChe" is synonymous and heard and then continue with another kite that aim for another attempt to set fighting and cutting.

Ironically kiters are all unknowingly known as opponents in the kite fighting, if you look at. Rooftops in the first place followed by a ground are the major platform for such activities seen far to distant and near to close encounters. Families celebrate it fulsome. Ecstasy, zeal, determination, content and fun pass by each other and it ends up happiness.

There are few in the lineage on kite flying and kiting competition in India. But the kind a rush is due with kiting in Ahmedabad to be seen and considered higly distinguished. One should see it in life time. However,to the fact what to be seen today the kind of festival Ahmadabad celebrates are highly reflected on the magnitude of festival with so many kiters in the state around boasted to be one amongst the largest, seriously.

Kiting In India

Kiting in India are having a mixed in nature. Major kiting now in India is show kiting with out any doubt, for sure.Followed by conventional kite flying and kite fighting in occasions. Sport kiting still has to give it's due by infusing ideas for such fly that has unique acrobatic technic and skill to be learned under the guidance of a experienced master. Some movement towards this direction has begun already in the state like Kerala.
In the context of the kites especially show kites, some states that compounded in the bandwagon are Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Punjab and list goes on endless.

All are kiters who possess kites. The rush in ground on the first and inaugural day of event will see kiters flock in with their kites that are bought from online & kite shop engaged in the field with full-on anxiety. Besides, kiters from foreign nations traveling from Europe, South Asia, Far East, Middle East, Africa covering almost 60- 80 countries are regular participants widely seen on the ground. An average kite they bring are in giant in figures are inflatables which are self sustainable in the wind and anchor nailed on the ground supporterd by anglers. This year also seen the fiendily wind ( once in last few years) that has supported the kiters justifying the activity. The presence therefore was highly successfull as far as Kiters are concerned.

There were Big MantaRay, an inflatable in the scheme of a large kite followed by Caterpiller, Protuese fish, Giant Bol, Train kite, Rokaku, cupid list goes on.

World Kite

I took the IKF as an opportunity to handover the World Kite. I decided to hand it over to my long time friend Ferruh Bayasu from Turkey whom I have randomly picked up by choice and with presence of my friends and official of Tourism of Gujarat.Thanks to Srikala, Vivekananda, Sasha, Deepak, Shahir , Sandesh and Akash who have videographed and shot wonderful stills. I personally kept this kite as a custodian for 16 Months and now giving it to Ferruh giving me a lot of happiness and must admit was sentimentally attached. My signature drawn in as theyyam, the masterpiece kite of mine as a symbol of my impression is there and one day when it reach the final destination the World Kite Museum in Washinhgton after so many years people can watch signatures of kiters. I have noticed the activity to Andy Taylor from UK from whom I have received it 16 months ago. And also requested Ferry to notify the founders who are based in US. They are known to me. Ferry is more than happy and will be handing over to his friend after he flies in his coutry. I was the 13th kiter and Ferruh is 14th. The World Kite has history of covering 12 country and it's kiters. All the best buddy.

Slovenian Kaping

Kaping was also an attraction this year. Kiter's from Slovenia, meeting with them is first time but it was felt that been known to each other for many years. They have made and brought the materials and begin shooting from the kite. Some of the pictures they took was admixing shot and I personally could resist my self asking" Sasha you have a wonderful pic man on my Theyyam kite flying captured by your KAP. And Sasha showing me the kite I expected. In No time I got it in email and here the pic for your reference. We were meeting at the first time and yet it felt like knowing many years! That is something like kite can give you. There is no strangeness meeting any kiter in the first time. We discussed lot about kaping as it was an interesting topic to me to as well. I was telling about my friend Nicholas Chorier, who was until 2017 in India based out of Puducherry whose name was a reaction with when it comes to KAPing. His work was also part of discussion. Nic moved to France where his home town. Unlike Nic Sasha use iPhone and Nikon small camera for his photo shoot. Hey... Sasha why don't you use the proper camera with down link LCD screen( i have seen NICs professional kit) may be little advanced one but he will say we are experiencing the thrill with out knowing what would appear and when we know the photo that we took is nice we are happy and thrilled. I vouch it as I have seen mine flying the super kite Theyyam.

Lot of new friends i met and there were friends recognised each other by FB.

This year I preferred to stay in Ahmadabad and that continued till last day.

Tabala

Another interesting thing that happened to me was helping Greg Mountjoy from South Africa when he wanted my support to buy a tabala for his friends daughter. That was a nice session with tabala maker Vignesh who runs a store in Naranpura in the city of Ahmadabad.Gadis from Singapore and Jacques frlm South Africa came along and we hired a taxi and went to buy. Though learned my rendezvous with tabala was after a long gap. Couldn't resist making taal and drupads as composition on to it and seriously it gave a refreshing feel to me. Friends did take few sneak videos. Greg bought a set of tabala weighing to kind of 8 kilo in a bag to carry back to SA.

KiteWorkshop

Days passed with fun, flying and flying and part of association on the kite making workshop by Gadis.

Last year I conducted the workshop and Jo Baker from Australia and few friends supported me.

There were lot of friends old and new on the ground.

Special Greetings

I must write about two special individuals who become so affectionate to me while on ground. They are none other than Srikala, an official of Tourism of Gujarat and Akash Nair, the favorite photographer from Ahmed bad became like "pyare baggage". One day on a chat I was asking Sri that if she can bring some Matsya Kari if she makes in home bring a piece to me. To my surprise she brought what she prepared along with rice. That was awsum as I was away for how many days from home yeah that taste i needed to rejuvenate my self.... No words ..... Thank you Sri. Followed by third day Akash brought home made kappa, fish fry, rice and what not....Sumptuous we all had it in the stall itself. We were becoming close no words this is what kite brings to me nice friends all around I love it owe it my god, supreme Lord Hanuman. Sustain me God!! Good friends around life turn around.
Rendezvous with CM of Gujarat
This year also seen my meeting with the CM of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani who arrived in roof top at the old city pole at khevadi to fly kite on the occasion of Uttarayan. Am more than happy.
Pleasantries with Kiters
Kiters from Colombia Marco and his wife, Mark n Nicole from Belgium, Sarat Kingsley from Australia, Abdul Rauf (Cha-cha) from Indi , Ferruh from Turkey Jo Baker from Australia and other friends on the ground.
Great seeing all good friends.
See you all next year my friends. I have overwhelmed and greetings from Kite life Foundation India.
Keep in touch.