5 million baht to circulate at Isan Grand Kite Tradition

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5 million baht to circulate at Isan Grand Kite Tradition
Source: NNT 2010-12-13

Buri Ram, 13 December 2010 (NNT) – Buri Ram province is holding an event aimed at promoting cultural and local wisdom next week. Dubbed "Isan Grand Kite Tradition 2010," the two-day event is expected to generate up to 5 million baht for local businesses.

Isan Grand Kite Tradition is one of the most interesting festivals; it is a place where competitions of various selected kites are held. Visitors ,both foreign and Thai, will have an opportunity to purchase local products hard to find anywhere else in the region, according to the Burirum Governor.

Every village will enter its kites in the competition. The kites are required to have at least a wing span 2.5 meters wide. Winners will be judged based on the decoration of the kites and and the sound they make while in the air.

The event will be held at Huai Rat District, Buri Ram;
from Dec.18-19.
For more information please contact 0-4451-4447.

[boloa]

About Thai Kites

Kites flying as a sport has been popular in Thailand since The region of King Ramkamhaeng of the Sukhothai period, some 700 years ago. There is also evidence that King Rama II (1809-1824)enjoy kite fighting more or less in its day present day from.The King used to match his pentagonal male kite, called a Chula ,against a courtier's female kite, called a Pakpao,on the Pramain Grounds beside the royal palace,the same area from which kites are flown today.
The Chula is a sturdy 260 cm kite with a bamboo frame that has been seasoned for months.Shaped like a five-point star, the big kite has three sets of bamboo barbs attached to its line for snagging a female.It takes a team of at least 20 people to launch, manoeuvre and retrieve a chula.
The Pakpao is deceptively fragile, diamond-shaped and only 90 cm from stem to stern. Its defences are a marvellous manoeuvrability and a 1200 cmloop of string hanging beneath its flying line, plus a 630cm tail with which it attempts to ensnare and strangle its opponent.The flirty little pakpao , with an expert at the end of its line, can dart in on its cumbersome male enemy with deadly accuracy.
A competition
To constitute a competition, there must be at least two pakpao teams for every chula team. Each game is held between two or three chula teams and five to ten pakpao teams.Ones afternoon's game lasts 45 minutes. Should there be more than three chula teams, a second set of 45 minutes is played. The teams draw lots to decide who plays in which set.
The Song Hong Kites
The Song Hong Kite has been part of culture of Burirum province for centuries.Where they came from,"nobody knows".They are flown every December at the full moon, when the wind is best and after the rice is harvested, for good luck and rain for the next year.If the wind is on time, the rain will be on time.The kites should fly well and make a good sound for three or four days and nights, or as long as the winds blows(as many as 10 days)The kites 's shape is thought to represent a mother in the leading wing and a baby in the trailing wing. The humming bow is unique to the Song Hong Kite. The bow is made of bamboo.The vibrator is made of long thin rattan or palm leaf attached to short string and stretched between the end of the bow bamboo. A small ball of wax of each end of the palm leaf controlls is the sound.The lager the ball of wax , the lower the hummer's tone.

Should be a Fun Event ...