Kite-2017, Telangana State's Second International Kite Festival formally inaugurated at Aga Khan Academy today.

Hyderabad, Janaury 13, 2017......Telangana State's Second International Kite Festival 2017 kicked off on a grand scale here in at Aga Khan Academy near RGI Airport, Shamshabad.

The inaugural followed ground-breaking curtain raiser event held on the evening of Thursday 12 January at People’s Plaza where remote controlled kites were flown for the first time in India by a specialized team from Singapore to an enraptured audience numbering in the thousands.

Ministers Azmeera Chandulal; Srinivas Yadav; Mahmood Ali, Kanakamamidi Swamy Goud, Chairman of Legislative Counci; Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, Head of Aga Khan Academy; Mamidi Harikrishna, Cultural Director; Smt. Sunita M.Bhagwat, Commissioner of Tourism; Smt. Dr Christina Z.Chongthu, MD, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation graced the inaugural function.

Telangana Tourism is extending KITE 2017 into a week-long festival spread across four districts and expects a total footfall of 50,000.

The festival opened with a cultural program and "Entertain and Educate--Inclusive Schools Program".

Rangareddy and Hyderabad districts, as well as the Telangana State Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions have brought in 4700 plus children in morning and afternoon sessions as part of the Inclusive Schools Program.

School kids from Ranga Reddy District have participated in the Inclusive Program. Some of these schools include: Vignan Model School, Kandukur; BRILLIANT ADONAI SCHOOL; BROOK FIELD UPS,SRI SHARADA VIDYA MANDIR; KAKATIYA TECHNO SCHOOL, SR DIGI SCHOOL; RAVINDRA BHARATHI SCHOOL; SRI VIDYA HIGH SCHOOL , CHAITANYA TECHNO SCHOOL; SRI SHIVAJI VIDYA PEETH; GNYANA SARASWATHI SCHOOL; BRILLIANT GRAMMAR SCHOOL; SRI KRISHNAVENI CONCEPT SCHOOL; ZPHS SATAMRAI; MPPS SATAMRAI; MPPS RALLAGUDA; MPUPS PEDDAGOLKONDA; ZPHS NARKHUDA; PS THUKKUGUDA and ZPHS (B) THUKKUGUDA.

The Festival will go on till January 17.

Addressing the six thousand gathering, B. Venaktesham, Principle Secretary, Tourism, Govt of Telangana said, it will be our endeavour to develop this festival in a very big way in next few years. It is the dream of the State Government to make this festival India's biggest International Kite Festival by the year 2020. We are already the second biggest kite festival in India after Gujarath, which has been hosting it for the past 25years. By the year 2025, we would like to make this festival the Asia's Biggest Kite Festival, informed B. Venkatesham.

We made a humble beginning in the year 2016 where just 8 countries participated. This year, the number has gone up to 17 countries. We would like to see to it that 50 countries take part in the next edition of the festival, B. Venkatesham informed.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Srinivas Yadav appealed that all festivals must be observed in a grand scale so that our generation next understands the importance and culture very well.

Mahmood Ali, the Deputy Chief Minister applauded the efforts put in by the Aga Khan Academy and Tourism Department.

The Kite Festival is held in support of women’s empowerment through girl child education, Telangana Tourism and Incredible India have decided to stand by the wider social inclusion agenda by sharing the wonderful experience of international kite flying and the educational aspects of kites, flight dynamics and wind as a form of energy.

17 countries, 27 kite clubs, 75+ kite flyers from countries such as France, Indonesia, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Singapore, Australia, Scotland - UK, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Italy, Ukraine, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Poland are participating and flying their kites.

Kite flyers from France include Mr. Sylvain Francois Grez; Ms. Blandine Jessica Cambon Grez; Mr. Nicolas Pierre Grez; Ms. Aline Lucette Huguette Gabillard; Indonesia include---Ms. Endang ErnawatiDradjat; Mr. Maksimus Wake Boka; Ms. Veronica AniIndrastuti; South Africa--- Mr. Keith Edison Mould, Mr. Gregory Francis Mount Joy; Japan--Mr. Akio Takeda; Mr. Shohachi Shiga.

Singapore Night Kite Flying is the largest contingent. They include: Mr. Lim Koh Leong; Mr. Darren DurielSuan Jun-Hui; Mr. Foo Fang Yaw; Mr. Pei Tee Hiong; Mr. Suan Cui Fu; Mr. Chong Yi Liang. Another two delegates from Singapore include Mr. Tan Juan Chew and Ms. TeoGeok.

Australia broought in Mr. Kevin Peter Sanders;Scotland : Mr. Andrew Martin Beattie; Ms. Kathleen Beattie; South Korea--Mr. Kitai Rhee and Mr. Yeho Ha .

Our neighboring country Sri Lanka has sent in four members who include Mr. The jitha Saubhagya Edirisinghe Appuhamillage; Mr. Milton Peiris Mihindu Kulasuriya; Mr. RajithaWiranga Kumara HerathWalgamage; Ms. Shiromi Wathsala Samarakoo Bathwadana Ralalage

Two flyers from each country Italy, Ukraine, Vietnam, Cambodia and Poland include: Mr. PatrizioMariani; Mr. Gianni Proietti; Mr. OleksiiZviryk; Mr. PavloShmulevych; Mr. Ha Hong Pham; Mr. Son Huu Nguyen; Mr. SimSatta; Mr. Sam Oeun Kang; Mr. Szymon Jan Krawczyk; Ms. AlicjaZofiaSzalsk are also participating.

Three three-member team of Malaysia include: Mr. Lim KokTiong; Mr. Tan Tiong Soon and Ms. Tan Shiou Ming

Kite Flying Clubs from 10 Indian states have also participated. Some of the clubs who participated include: Royal Kite Flying Club; Orange City Kite Flying Club; Anand Kite Club; DJ Kite Club, Kohinoor Kite Flying Club of Hyderabad and Jeem Kite Club

The highest number of Indian participants have come from Rajkot. They include Mr. Mahesh Chavda; Mr. GautamChauhan; Mr. YashChavda; Mr. Viral Rathod; Mr. Akshit Badiyani; Mr. RachitChavda. Three member team from Ahmedabad include: Mr. Jamsheed Turner; Mr. Gufran Turner; Mr. Ayeman Turner; Four member team from Ahmedabad and Nagpur include: Mr. PaavanSolanki; Ms. Rupal Solanki; and Mr. AkashSolanki

Three kite flyers from Dodhalpur in Karnataka include Muniraju S; Thulasi Mahesh K and Prasanna K S; two members from Baroda---Mr. JigneshKhatri; Mr. MilinKhatri; three from Nagpur--Mr. GulabchandJangid; Mr. Kishore Jangid; Mr. GirdharilalJangid and three from Mangalore---Mr. K PrashanthUpadhayay; Mr. SatishRao B; Mr. SrinikethRao.

Hyderabad’s own Kohinoor Kite Club headed by its President Mr. Srinivas, have offered to share the kite flying experience with the children as a gesture of goodwill and generosity. The fiften years old club which has 25 members participated with the large contingent.

Nearly 50 different models of the kites of varied size and shape were flown in the sprawling 100 acre campus of Aga Khan Academy.

The festival aims to raise the tourism profile and rich cultural heritage of Hyderabad as a ‘hidden jewel’ of India by attracting renowned international kite flyers to our state.

Olekseii Zviryk from Ukrain was a star attraction. He is a 80 years old Kite Flying Enthusiast. He has flown two kites made of Cigarette Paper with his own image drawn by a famous artist of their country. Though he is so old he was competing with many youngsters in kite flying.

Bongudala Narsing Rao, a kite flyer who confined to the wheel chair, who is also the member of Kohinoor Kite Flying Club came with lot of enthusiasm and flown kites. He is confined to wheel chair for the past 20 years. But, his spirit is not dampened. He flies kites like a normal human beings do. I am mad of sports. Kite flying is a sport. I am a super kite flyer, Narging Rao declares. He is also an activist who fights for the cause of accessibility of Public Spaces, Worship places, Entertainment places and Parks for the people who are confined to wheel chairs.

Besides the RC Kite(Remote Controlled Kite), the major attraction, Window Kite which is also called a Miniature Kite was flown during the inaugural.

There was a train kite, which has 100 kites joined in a row and flown as one single kite. Flying a kite train is a unique and exhilarating activity. The biggest ever Train Kite i have witnessed was during Common Wealth Games in Delhi. It had 1000 kites, informed Akash, a sports kite flyer from Ahmedabad.

Train Kite has an excellent display in the sky. The kite-trains easily attract eyes and cameras. The sense of their gentle pull and the cascading effect of your hand’s movements on the entire train are unique. The good news is that kite-trains are extremely easy to fly informed Muniraju S; Thulasi Mahesh K and Prasanna K S from Dodbalpur, Karnataka.

Kevin Sanders from Australia was seen flying a Dragon Kite, which he prepared himself. The 58years old former IT System Administrator is now semi-retired. And dedicates his full time for kite flying. He travels all over the world. He participates in nearly 50 to 60 Kite Flying Festivals held all over the world, more so in Asian Countries. Kite was origniated in China and is very popular in Asian countries, he informed.

My girl friend has introduced me to kite flying. Since then, for the last 25 years i have been flying kites, he informed. This is my second visit to India. There are nearly 200 professional kite flyers all over the world. But, nearly 1000 are active kite flyers. I have read books, tried to make kites on my own. Now i made many types of kites, he disclosed.

HengXunZheng from Singapore shared that he has been flying for 15years. "What made me interested in becoming a professional kite flyer was t he action, the challenge, and the opportunity to travel around the world to showcase our skills and kites. I have participated and performed in Cha-am International Kite Festival, Dubai International Kite Festival. We are currently holding the Singapore book of records since 2007 for flying 42 Kites in the sky during our nation's birthday ," HengZheng claims proudly. " We are known for lighting up the night skies, bringing joy and wonder to the people ," he said.

Commenting about night flying, Heng Xun Zheng said, "It's a unique experience that will thrill you and a wonderful aerial display that is both captivating and special. The world's one and only night flying aerial display of RC kites. We are excited and thrilled to be part of KITE 2017 where we want to thrill and captivate the audiences with our performance. We look forward to being there and showcase our unique RC kites to the world," Heng Zheng informed.

Cambodia Kite Flyers Mr. SimSatta and Mr. Sam Oeun Kang inform that they have been flying kites for ten yearsand that K ITE 2017 is a platform for making friend s and sharing the experience of kite flying.

"We are interested in promotion and conservation of our culture through the cultural product--Khmer Traditional Kite, KhlengEk to the world ," they informed. " Our main aim to participate in KITE 2017 is to disseminate Angkor Wat to all the tourist to visit Kingdom of Cambodia via Angkor painting on the kite ."

SimSatta says," I have performed at many kite festivals in the world such as Malaysia, Korea, Japan, India, Thailand, and some European countries. We have won 1st prize one time in 2009 which was held in Ahmedabad ."

Speaking about KITE 2017, they said we hope this event will provide us a new experience with new friends and particularly it is the platform for disseminating of Cambodian Culture as well as Khmer Civilization via the Khmer Traditional Kite (KhlengEk and KhlengBao) with the beautiful Angkor Wat (12th Century) painting.

Kitai Rhee, President of Korean Kitefliers Association (KOKFA) and Master of traditional Korean kite speaking on behalf of two member team said I have been flying kites for 55ears. He learned kite flying and making from a teacher. Now he is the master of traditional Korean kite. The team has participated in the Thailand International Kite Festival, India International Kite Festival, Borneo International Kite Festival Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia, Uiseong International Kite Festival, Bali International Kite Festival, Greece International Kite Festival, Jakarta International Kite Festival. Etc.

The team is known as KOKFA KOREAN TEAM in the international kite flying circuit.

Kaitai Rhee informed that they brought with them KITAI TRAIN KITE 300M, KOREAN FLAG KITE 5M X 7M, etc kites.

The Ukraine team comprised of Mr. OleksiiZviryk; Mr. PavloShmulevych.They have been flying since 1955. Their love to the sky and technical creativity dragged them to be a professional kite-flyer. They have attended 20 international kite festivals including International Festival of Culture in Manchester in England and others. They have won many cups, medal, prizes.

They have broguht with them Copyright kites. Kherson City of Peace (KCP) kite, 800*800 mm, made of cigarette paper, with unique copyrighted emblem of Kherson community by their volunteer team - to be introduced for the first time at this festival informed PavloShmulevych from Kherson, Ukraine.

Mr. Andrew Martin Beattie and Ms. Kathleen Beattie the two member Scotland team said they are happy to be in India. Andrew informed that he started kite flying as a teenager. Kathleen started in the year 2000. Kathleen is travelled first time to India. Andrew was here before.

"It is more fun than my previous job, working with computers all day, " Andrew informed. They have participated in so many kite festivals that they have lost count. "I went to Kuwait 3 times, China 3 times, Dubai, Finland, Estonia, Poland, France, Northern and Southern Ireland and many events in Scotland and England " informed Andrew.

Andrew informs that he helped the Al-Farsi team to break the record for the largest kite flown. "I was the first person to do more than 60mph in a kite buggy and have more trophies and awards for performances at kite festivals than I have room to display. However, i am not motivated by awards but rather from the joy in people's faces ," Andrew says. They brought with them 30m gecko and a 30m Manta Ray. " This is our first trip to Hyderabad. We look forward to sharing our kites with you, " says Andrew.

There is a sports kite, which looks like a snake. This is also called a fighter kite, informs Akash, whose father Mr. Pawan Solanki is also a kite flyer. Then there is kite which produces noise. It has 70 feet tail.

Another unique kite is a Quard Kite which has four strings. Only ten people in India fly this kite. I have just learnt to fly this, informed Akash. There are other varieties also. Flight Kite and Inflatable kite. Some of them you get to witness during this festival, Akash added.

Indoor kite is one such a kite which is flown without air, informed Akash. Kite Sport is one type of exercise. It is my hobby, informs Akash.

India is home to nearly 300 active kite flyers of which 70 plus are professional kite flyers, informed a representative from Royal Kite Flying Club. India has several Kite Flying Clubs. Some of them who are participating in the festival include: Royal Kite Flying Club from Ahmedabad; Orange City Kite Flying Club from Nagpur; Anand Kite Club from Rajkot; DJ Kite Club from Vadodara, Kohinoor Kite Flying Club from Hyderabad and Jeem Kite Club from Ahmedabad.

There are 70 Kite Flying Clubs all over the world informs Pawan Solanki of Royal Kite Flying Club.

Pusarla Venkata‘ PV’ Sindhu, Telangana state icon, is the official ‘face’ for the festival.

Festival Program – upto to 17thJanuary 2017

•Saturday 14th& Sunday 15th – 2 days of family fun and kite flying @ Aga Khan Academy

•Monday 16th – KITE 2017 inYadagirigutta

•Tuesday 17th – KITE 2017 in Warangal