Kites and military strategies

Who would have thought that the lovely, colourful kites were once flown, not for pleasure, but for planning a defence strategy against the enemies! Around 200 BC, General Han Xin of the Han Dynasty was desperate to find out how far his army had to tunnel underground in order to breach the defences of the city that he was planning to attack. The kite gave him a pretty good idea. So he flew a kite over the walls of the city to measure the distance!

Admiral Yi of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea used kites in a different way. During an invasion, he commanded his navy to use kites, each with specific markings, to direct the fleet to perform different orders. Now, how cool is that!

In the 19th century, Russians used kites to accurately tow torpedoes.

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The International Kite Festival is a long-standing festival that takes place every year on the 14 January in Gujarat. The season signifies the start of spring and the entry of the Sun into the Makara Rashi. Makar Sankranti is a joyful and delightful occasion. According to the Indian calendar, it marks the day when winter starts giving way to summer, and for the farmers, it signals the return of the Sun and the beginning of the harvest season.

Western India celebrates Uttarayan at this time which symbolizes the awakening of the Gods from their deep sleep. One of the most important festivals observed during this season is the International Kite Festival. People from countries such as Japan, Italy, USA, UK, Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Australia, Malaysia, China, France and others travel to India to take part in the festival. It is an opportunity for people from different parts of the world to showcase their creative and unique innovative kites.

It is believed that the Muslims from Persia brought the concept of kite flying to India. The kings and Nawabs of that era used it to showcase their skills and prowess. What started as a pastime for royalty soon trickled down to the general public. Over time, kite flying became one of Gujarat’s most popular sports. In India, it has now become a two-day public holiday.

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