ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Kite flying is one of the most popular fun sports in India. Vaishnav Parivar New Zealand has pioneered the event here in New Zealand and has been hosting it since 2005. The Parivar is organising this event not just for the benefit of the Indian community but also for the greater public of Auckland. The event even features in the Event Finder and Auckland City Council ‘City Events’ list.
Kites have a universal fascination, no one can resist the exhilaration of using wind to defy gravity and make a manmade object fly. Kite flying goes back thousands of years and kites today have developed into many forms and uses throughout the world. Kites appear in the culture and history of many countries around the world. They have been worshipped as religious symbols, used as instruments of war, been developed as practical tools and simply provided a source of entertainment and enjoyment. Kites have probably been in existence for over twenty-five centuries and it is now thought that kite was probably flown in China around 1000 BC. Kites have spread quickly through out the Far East by the end of millennium they played significant roles in many different countries and cultures.
The kite flying tradition in India is known as the Makar Sankranti or the Basant. People from all background and ages, every year engage in flying kites. It is generally celebrated on 13 or 14 of January. Traditionally the kite flying is a sport where kite flying skills are transferred from father to son. It helps strengthening the family bond.
Kite flying is also significant to various cultures living in New Zealand such as Maori, Chinese, Sri Lankans, Europeans, and Japanese.
From 2005 till 2010 Vaishnav Parivar NZ has organised this event locally focusing on Indian community. “However, the learning from the past five years of hosting this event and the presence of different cultures has made us think that if we collaborate with Kite clubs and Associations from Auckland, invite other cultures from within and outside Auckland to participate in this event it will be an opportunity for people from different cultures to come together and learn about kite flying,” says Parivar’s Jayesh Bateriwala.
“Next year’s event is planned on January 7, 2012 at Avondale Race Course grounds and we expect approximately 10000 visitors,” Mr Bateriwala said.
Kite flying is one of the most popular fun sports in India. Vaishnav Parivar New Zealand has pioneered the event here in New Zealand and has been hosting it since 2005. The Parivar is organising this event not just for the benefit of the Indian community but also for the greater public of...
Kite flying is one of the most popular fun sports in India. Vaishnav Parivar New Zealand has pioneered the event here in New Zealand and has been hosting it since 2005. The Parivar is organising this event not just for the benefit of the Indian community but also for the greater public of Auckland. The event even features in the Event Finder and Auckland City Council ‘City Events’ list.
Kites have a universal fascination, no one can resist the exhilaration of using wind to defy gravity and make a manmade object fly. Kite flying goes back thousands of years and kites today have developed into many forms and uses throughout the world. Kites appear in the culture and history of many countries around the world. They have been worshipped as religious symbols, used as instruments of war, been developed as practical tools and simply provided a source of entertainment and enjoyment. Kites have probably been in existence for over twenty-five centuries and it is now thought that kite was probably flown in China around 1000 BC. Kites have spread quickly through out the Far East by the end of millennium they played significant roles in many different countries and cultures.
The kite flying tradition in India is known as the Makar Sankranti or the Basant. People from all background and ages, every year engage in flying kites. It is generally celebrated on 13 or 14 of January. Traditionally the kite flying is a sport where kite flying skills are transferred from father to son. It helps strengthening the family bond.
Kite flying is also significant to various cultures living in New Zealand such as Maori, Chinese, Sri Lankans, Europeans, and Japanese.
From 2005 till 2010 Vaishnav Parivar NZ has organised this event locally focusing on Indian community. “However, the learning from the past five years of hosting this event and the presence of different cultures has made us think that if we collaborate with Kite clubs and Associations from Auckland, invite other cultures from within and outside Auckland to participate in this event it will be an opportunity for people from different cultures to come together and learn about kite flying,” says Parivar’s Jayesh Bateriwala.
“Next year’s event is planned on January 7, 2012 at Avondale Race Course grounds and we expect approximately 10000 visitors,” Mr Bateriwala said.
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