Soaring high ...

A boy deeply engrossed with the kites at the exhibition .Photo: Afsar Ahmed

However, the kite flying tradition is perishing by the day. To popularise this funfilled heritage, a Tibet Japan-Bangladesh Kite Exhibition was held on March 28 at the National Museum Novera Hall. The two-day long exhibition, organised by the Dhakabashi Organisation, featured the delicacy and beauty of a good number of Bangladeshi and Japanese kites.

Inaugurated by Matsushiro Horiguchi, the Ambassador of Japan in Bangladesh, Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the Privatisation Commission and chief advisor of Dhakabashi presided over the programme.

The colouful Japanese kites with distinct characters gripped the spectators at the exhibition. As people say, the Japanese kites are among the most spectacular in the world, treasured as much for the aesthetic worth as for the pleasure they give as toys.

The traditional kite consists of a light bamboo or wood frame over which is affixed paper painted with various bold motifs, ranging from faces of legendary war heroes to brilliant geometric patterns; in the hands of a skilled craftsman, the Japanese kite becomes a work of art. For instance, with the baggy sleeves and in a traditional attire, the Yakkodako kite from Tokyo, with a grotesque face putting out the tongue for exorcism, the Noshirodako-Noshiro kite from Akita, drawn only with tones of ink, the Managudako-Yuzawa kite from Akita, made in wooden frame instead of bamboo the Tsugarudako from Aomori and many more "airborne artwork" containing the traditional Japanese essence captured the eyes of the visitors.

Apart from the Japanese kites, a good number of Bangladeshi kites, which are on the verge of extinction, were also displayed. Sona Mia, a popular kite-man who has not given up the hope of preserving this age-old tradition of airborne sport, came up with almost 20 various designs of kites. The umbrella look alike Chhata Ghuri, the beetle leaf shaped Paandan, having four tails the Chumukhi, Gayla, turtle-like Kauthadar, snake-shaped Shap Ghuri were not any the less captivating than their Japanese counterparts. "The kite symbolises the human body and the string attached to it is the soul, the person holding the string is the Almighty," said Sona Mia. According to him the major differences between Japanese kites and Bangladeshi kites is that the latter are lighter and do not always need a tail.

To Sona Mia, the secret of successful kite flying is in its string. And he has access to some of the best-kept secrets of making razor-sharp string with Chun, glass powder and red colour.

Visitors at the exhibition were eager to fly these beautiful airborne warriors, although they were only for display. Engrossed with the kites and holding the natai (the reel) in his hands, the eight-year-old Shuman didn't hesitate to express his desire to fly kites and " enjoy a real kite fighting!"

However, as people, say imagination is the highest kite that one can fly. Meanwhile one can only hope the old art of kite flying will continue to attract children and adults and reveal that the sky's the limit!