A High-Flying Tale of Strings and Tails

By San Yamin Aung 22 April 2015

RANGOON — The 11th annual Traditional Kite Design and Dueling Competition kicked off in Rangoon on Tuesday, drawing hundreds of flight-loving participants to the city’s sporting grounds.

The competition, coordinated by the Myanmar Traditional Sports Federation, will take place from April 21 to 26 at the Kyaikkasan Sports Grounds in Tamwe Township.

Ohmar Than, the federation’s general secretary, told The Irrawaddy that 115 contestants, mostly from Burma’s largest city and commercial capital of Rangoon, will compete for cash prizes for innovative hand-made design and flying tournaments.

Winners are vying for prizes ranging from US$120 to $250, with $30 consolation awards. Participants in the kite design contest will each receive $50 for materials and related expenses.

Observers are welcome to come and enjoy the sights and activities, Ohmar Than said, with the hope that this traditional art form will take off among future generations.

“We host this every year,” she said, “so that one of Myanmar’s cultural traditions won’t disappear.”