Fancy kites create riot of colours in Kolkata sky

Creating a riot of colours in the sky with innovative and fancy kites of myriad shapes and sizes, expert kite fliers from across the country and abroad today participated in a kite festival here.
Belgium's Johan Van Eeckhout was among the biggest crowd-puller at the Eco-park in Rajarhat where 'Vokatta' was held as he came with the world's biggest inflatable delta zero wind kite.
Altogether there were 24 innovative and fancy kite fliers from nine countries like the US, Belgium, UK, France and Malaysia. Another 22 astounding participants from various corners of India joined them in the kite flying exercise, resulting in a breath-taking site of the sky, dotted with mesmerising designs of kites.

Santosh Kumar Jaiswal, managing trustee of the Benchmark New Town Kolkata International Kite Festival Trust, said around 30,000 people gathered at the open ground of Eco-park to watch the spectacle.
"With this we are trying to promote kite flying as a sport and relate it with tourism so that the dying tradition can be revived," Jaiswal said.
The kite gallery was another attraction which showcased the heritage and history of kite flying, enriching everyone's memory with kites from 300 AD to modern days.
Started last year, 'Vokatta' festival derives its name from 'Woh Katta' word in Hindi which means downing a rival's kite. The festival showcases the rich heritage of Indian kite making and also the traditional technique of kite flying which has evolved with time.