Editing Kite (section)

== Cultural uses ==
[[List of kite festivals|Kite festivals]] are a popular form of entertainment throughout the world. They include large local events, traditional festivals which have been held for hundreds{{clarify|date=August 2012}} of years and major international festivals which bring in kite flyers from other countries to display their unique art kites and demonstrate the latest technical kites.

Many countries have kite museums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.drachen.org/interact/kite-museums|title=Kite Museums – Drachen Foundation|website=Drachen.org|access-date=2018-04-29|archive-date=2018-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430114558/http://www.drachen.org/interact/kite-museums|url-status=dead}}</ref> These museums may have a focus on historical kites, preserving the country's kite traditions.

=== Asia ===
[[File:Image taken from page 64 of 'Travels in India, including Sinde and the Punjab; ... translated from the German, by H. E. Lloyd' (11024411234).jpg|thumb|Kite maker from India, image from ''Travels in India, including Sinde and the Punjab'' by H. E. Lloyd, 1845]]
Kite flying is popular in many Asian countries, where it often takes the form of "[[kite fighting]]", in which participants try to snag each other's kites or cut other kites down.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9045682 |title=Kite.(2007) Encyclopædia Britannica Online |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=2013-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ikkai |first=Chie |date=2006 |title=Kite Battle: Tradition and Acculturation |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ijshs/4/Special_Issue_2006/4_Special_Issue_2006_179/_article |journal=International Journal of Sport and Health Science |volume=4 |issue=Special_Issue_2006 |pages=179–186 |doi=10.5432/ijshs.4.179}}</ref> [[Fighter kite]]s are usually small, flattened diamond-shaped kites made of paper and bamboo. Tails are not used on fighter kites so that agility and maneuverability are not compromised.[[File:Thrill-of-flying-kites 640.jpg|thumb|Boy flying kite in outskirts of [[Kathmandu Valley|Kathmandu]] Valley]]In [[Afghanistan]], kite flying is a popular game, and is known in [[Dari (Eastern Persian)|Dari]] as ''Gudiparan Bazi''. Some kite fighters pass their strings through a mixture of ground glass powder and glue, which is legal. The resulting strings are very abrasive and can sever the competitor's strings more easily. The abrasive strings can also injure people. During the [[Taliban]] rule in Afghanistan, kite flying was banned, among various other recreations.

In [[Pakistan]], kite flying is often known as Gudi-Bazi or Patang-bazi. Although kite flying is a popular ritual for the celebration of spring festival known as [[Jashn-e-Baharaan]] (lit. Spring Festival) or [[Basant (season)|Basant]], kites are flown throughout the year. [[Fighter kite|Kite fighting]] is a very popular pastime all around Pakistan, but mostly in urban centers across the country (especially [[Lahore]]).  The kite fights are at their highest during the spring celebrations and the fighters enjoy competing with rivals to cut-loose the string of the others kite, popularly known as "Paecha". During the spring festival, kite flying competitions are held across the country and the skies are colored with kites. When a competitor succeeds in cutting another's kite loose, shouts of 'wo kata' ring through the air. Cut kites are reclaimed by chasing after them. This is a popular ritual, especially among the country's youth, and is depicted in the 2007 film ''[[The Kite Runner (film)|The Kite Runner]]'' (although that story is based in neighboring [[Afghanistan]]).  Kites and strings are a big business in the country and several different types of string are used, including glass-coated, metal, and tandi. Kite flying was banned in [[Punjab, India]] due to more than one motorcyclist death caused by glass-coated or metal kite strings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basant: Colorless skies as ban on kite flying in Pakistan continues |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/basant-colorless-skies-as-ban-on-kite-flying-in-pakistan-continues/2473162 |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> Kup, Patang, Guda, and Nakhlaoo are some of the popular kite brands; they vary in balance, weight and speed.

In [[Indonesia]] kites are flown as both sport and recreation. One of the most popular kite variants is from [[Bali]]. Balinese kites are unique and they have different designs and forms; birds, butterflies, dragons, ships, etc. In [[Vietnam]], kites are flown without tails. Instead small flutes are attached allowing the wind to "hum" a musical tune. There are other forms of sound-making kites. In Bali, large bows are attached to the front of the kites to make a deep throbbing vibration, and in Malaysia, a row of gourds with sound-slots are used to create a whistle as the kite flies. Malaysia is also home to the [[Kite Museum (Malacca)|Kite Museum]] in [[Malacca]].<ref>Pogadaev, Victor. Svetly Mesyatz-Zmei Kruzhitsa (My Lord Moon Kite) - "Vostochnaya Kollektsia" (Oriental Collection). M.: Russian State Library. N 4 (38), 2009, 129-134. {{ISSN|1681-7559}}</ref>

Kite are also popular in [[Nepal]], especially in hilly areas and among the [[Pahari people (Nepal)|Pahadi]] and [[Newar people|Newar]] communities, although people also fly kites in [[Terai]] areas. Unlike India, people in Nepal fly kites in August – September period and is more popular in time of [[Dashain]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sijapati|first=Alisha|title=Kite fight over Kathmandu|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/kite-fight-over-kathmandu/|website=Nepalitimes.com|date=8 October 2020 |access-date=2020-11-18|language=en-US}}</ref>

Kites are very popular in [[India]], with the states of Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab notable for their kite fighting festivals. Highly maneuverable single-string paper and bamboo kites are flown from the rooftops while using line friction in an attempt to cut each other's kite lines, either by letting the cutting line loose at high speed or by pulling the line in a fast and repeated manner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nikita Desai - A Different Freedom_ Kite Flying in Western India_ Culture and Tradition-Cambridge Scholars Publishing (2010) {{!}} PDF {{!}} Kite |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/803113960/Nikita-Desai-A-Different-Freedom-Kite-Flying-in-Western-India-Culture-and-Tradition-Cambridge-Scholars-Publishing-2010 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Scribd |language=en}}</ref> During the Indian spring festival of [[Makar Sankranti]], near the middle of January, millions of people fly kites all over northern India.  Kite flying in Hyderabad starts a month before this, but kite flying/fighting is an important part of other celebrations, including [[Republic Day]], Independence Day, [[Raksha Bandhan]], [[Vishvakarman#Vishwakarma Puja|Viswakarma Puja day]] in late September and [[Janmashtami]]. An international kite festival is held every year before [[Uttarayan]] for three days in [[Vadodara]], [[Surat]] and [[Ahmedabad]].

Kites have been flown in China since ancient times. [[Weifang]] is home to the largest kite museum in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2018/feb/02/story-of-a-kite-1767394.html|title=Story of a Kite|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Weifang World Kite Museum in Weifang,Shandong Province - China.org.cn|url=http://www.china.org.cn/travel/2009-11/11/content_18864993.htm#:~:text=.%5BGlobal%20Times%5D-,The%20Weifang%20World%20Kite%20Museum%20is%20the%20largest%20kite%20museum,area%20of%208,100%20square%20meters.|access-date=2020-08-25|website=China.org.cn}}</ref> It also hosts an annual international kite festival on the large salt flats south of the city. There are several kite museums in Japan, UK, [[Malaysia]], Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA. In the pre-modern period, Malays in [[Singapore]] used kites for fishing.<ref>{{cite book|last=Skeat|first=Walter William|title=Malay Magic: An Introduction to the Folklore and Popular Religion of the Malay Peninsula|year=1965|isbn=978-0-7146-2026-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K9Ly7Q9p-dgC&q=cock%20fighting%20malay&pg=PA485|page=485|publisher=Psychology Press }}</ref>

In Japan, kite flying is traditionally a children's play in New Year holidays and in the Boys' Festival in May. In some areas, there is a tradition to celebrate a new boy baby with a new kite (祝い凧). There are many kite festivals throughout Japan. The most famous one is "Yōkaichi Giant Kite Festival" in [[Higashiōmi, Shiga]], which started in 1841.<ref>[http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/michi/cgi/detail.cgi?dasID=D0004200022_00000 八日市大凧まつり] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526154143/http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/michi/cgi/detail.cgi?dasID=D0004200022_00000 |date=2015-05-26 }}[[NHK]](video)</ref> The largest kite ever built in the festival is {{convert|62|ft|m|0}} wide by {{convert|67|ft|m|0}} high and weighs {{convert|3307|lbs|kg|0}}.<ref>[http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~et3m-tkkw/h4.html GIANT KITE FESTIVALS IN JAPAN ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311024744/http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ET3M-TKKW/h4.html |date=2012-03-11 }} Japanese Kite Collection</ref> In the [[Hamamatsu Kite Festival]] in [[Hamamatsu, Shizuoka]], more than 100 kites are flown in the sky over the [[Nakatajima Sand Dunes]], one of the three largest sand dunes in Japan, which overlooks the Enshunada Sea.<ref>[http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/festival/hamamatsufes.html A spectacular festival of some 100 large kites flying over sand dunes.] Japan National Tourism Organization</ref> Parents who have a new baby prepare a new kite with their baby's name and fly it in the festival.<ref>[http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/michi/cgi/detail.cgi?dasID=D0004200028_00000　Hamamatsu Matsuri] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527184421/http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/michi/cgi/detail.cgi?dasID=D0004200028_00000 |date=2015-05-27 }} [[NHK]]</ref> These kites are traditional ones made from bamboo and paper.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Malaysiakite.jpg|Making a traditional ''Wau jala budi'' kite in [[Malaysia]]. The bamboo frame is covered with plain paper and then decorated with multiple layers of shaped paper and foil.
File:Balinese Kites 5.jpg|Various Balinese kites is on display in front of a store in [[Ubud]], Bali, Indonesia
File:Kite shop in Lucknow.jpg|A kite shop in [[Lucknow]], India
File:Japanese kites.jpg|Traditional Japanese kites
File:Wt-3395EX4.5.jpg|Different kites are sold at a shop in [[Hội An]], Vietnam
</gallery>

=== Europe ===
[[File:Bermuda Kite 01.jpg|thumb|[[Bermuda kite]]]]
In [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]], flying kites is a tradition for [[Clean Monday]], the first day of [[Lent]]. In the [[British Overseas Territory]] of [[Bermuda]], traditional [[Bermuda kite]]s are made and flown at [[Easter]], to symbolise Christ's ascent. In [[Fuerteventura]] a kite festival is usually held on the weekend nearest to 8 November lasting for 3 days.

=== Polynesia ===
Polynesian traditional kites are sometimes used at ceremonies and variants of traditional kites for amusement. Older pieces are kept in museums. These are treasured by the people of Polynesia.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Charles-Barraud-maori-kite.jpg|[[Māori people|Māori]] kite
File:Peter-lynn-octopus.jpg|Launch of ram-air inflated [[Peter Lynn]] single-line kite, shaped like an octopus and {{convert|90|ft|m|0}} long
</gallery>

=== South America ===
[[File:Worlds Largest Kite - Aloft - Taken in 2004.jpg|thumb|A kite in the shape of the [[flag of Kuwait]]. The size when flat is {{convert|42|x|25|m|sp=us}}, {{convert|1050|m2|sp=us}}. While flying it becomes a little smaller (about {{convert|900|m2|sp=us}}) due to curvature of the edges when inflated.]]In [[Brazil]], flying a kite is a very popular leisure activity for children, teenagers and even young adults. Mostly these are boys, and it is overwhelmingly [[kite fighting]] a game whose goal is to maneuver their own kites to cut the other persons' kites' strings during flight, and followed by [[kite running]] where participants race through the streets to take the free-drifting kites. As in other countries with similar traditions, injuries are common and motorcyclists in particular need to take precautions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirantesmt.com/2012/06/11/motorcyclists-worst-nightmare-brazils-deadly-kites/|title=mirantesmt.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827025737/http://www.mirantesmt.com/2012/06/11/motorcyclists-worst-nightmare-brazils-deadly-kites/|archive-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>

In [[Chile]], kites are very popular, especially during Independence Day festivities (September 18).
In Peru, kites are also very popular. There are kite festivals in parks and beaches mostly on August.

In [[Colombia]], kites can be seen flown in parks and recreation areas during August which is calles as windy. It is during this month that most people, especially the young ones would fly kites.

In [[Guyana]], kites are flown at Easter, an activity in which all ethnic and religious groups participate. Kites are generally not flown at any other time of year. Kites start appearing in the sky in the weeks leading up to Easter and school children are taken to parks for the activity. It all culminates in a massive airborne celebration on Easter Monday especially in Georgetown, the capital, and other coastal areas. The history of the practice is not entirely clear but given that Easter is a Christian festival, it is said that kite flying is symbolic of the Risen Lord. Moore<ref>Moore, Brian L. (1995). ''Cultural Power, Resistance, and Pluralism: Colonial Guyana 1838-1900.'' McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, {{ISBN|978-0-7735-1354-9}}</ref> describes the phenomenon in the 19th century as follows:

{{blockquote|A very popular Creole pastime was the flying of kites. Easter Monday, a public holiday, was the great kite-flying day on the sea wall in Georgetown and on open lands in villages. Young and old alike, male and female, appeared to be seized by kite-flying mania. Easter 1885 serves as a good example. "The appearance of the sky all over Georgetown, but especially towards the Sea Wall, was very striking, the air being thick with kites of all shapes and sizes, covered with gaily coloured paper, all riding bravely on the strong wind.|(His quotation is from a letter to The Creole newspaper of December 29, 1858.)}}

The exact origins of the practice of kite flying (exclusively) at Easter are unclear. [[Bridget Brereton]] and Kevin Yelvington<ref>Brereton, Bridget; Yelvington, Kevin A. (1999). ''The Colonial Caribbean in Transition''. University Press of Florida, {{ISBN|978-0-8130-1696-2}}</ref> speculate that kite flying was introduced by Chinese indentured immigrants to the then colony of British Guiana in the mid 19th century. The author of an article in the ''Guyana Chronicle'' newspaper of May 6, 2007 is more certain:

{{blockquote|Kite flying originated as a Chinese tradition to mark the beginning of spring. However, because the plantation owners were suspicious of the planter class (read "plantation workers"), the Chinese claimed that it represented the resurrection of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]].  It was a clever argument, as at that time, Christians celebrated Easter to the glory of the risen Christ. The Chinese came to Guyana from 1853{{ndash}}1879.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2006-05-07.html|title=Welcome to guyanachronicle.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416173653/http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2006-05-07.html|access-date=15 December 2021|archive-date=2008-04-16}}</ref>}}