Balinese people and Balinese kites go hand-in-hand and while Bali’s skies are busiest between June and September when the whole island seems to take up kite flying, there are kites to be seen all year round.
Our guide to Bali’s kites will help you understand the important part these colourful and playful objects play in Balinese life.
Types Of Traditional Balinese Kites
It’s worth noting that Balinese Kites aren’t just a form of hobby, they are part of the sacred Hindu customs of the island and flying a kite made from colorful paper is meant to help thank the Gods that watch over Bali and to request a bountiful harvest season (a “Rare Angon”).
Kites are commonly fashioned from colorful paper or silks and the most common colours are white, red, yellow and black. These colours are chosen because they are meant to symbolize the different incarnations of the Gods.
The various shapes of the kites are traditional and you can commonly find:
Bebean Kite – these are shaped like fish
Janggan Kite – these are shaped like dragons/long-tailed birds
Pecukan Kite – these are shaped like leaves
It’s worth noting that a Pecukan Kite is said to be the most challenging kite to fly and it’s a symbol of kite mastery in Bali to be able to fly one.
Balinese children learn to make their first kites when they are very young and the tradition is passed down from father to son.
They use bamboo to make the frames and then add paper to the frame to complete the kite.
Later on, they will use silk instead of paper and the string to guide the kite is replaced with rope.
The most skilful flyers will join a team and they will operate the large kites that are absolutely beloved by the Balinese people.
The Biggest Balinese Kite
Just for reference the largest kite that has taken to the sky in Bali to date was made by the Meranggi Family and was a Bebean Kite.
The tail was 150 meters long, it had a wingspan of 10 meters and the body was 15 meters long! It weighed approximately 80 kilograms!
What Is The Cultural Significance Of Balinese Kites?
The use of kites in Balinese culture is deeply significant and some of the most important things are:
The chance to celebrate the gods – the colours used and the heights reached are meant to help the people communicate with the gods and spirits of the land and to celebrate them
The chance to entreat for a bounteous harvest – when the Gods are happy, they bless the people of Bali
The chance to appreciate the cultural heritage of the land – children learn to fly kites from a young age and are taught as part of various festive and community occasions and ceremonies
The chance for familial bonding – this art is handed down from parent to child and is seen as one of the most joyous activities that can be carried out together
The chance to become creative – children will learn to become more artistic and to take pride in their work as they build their first kites and go on to create ever better kites
The chance to have fun – play is vital for child development and kite flying is a great way to have fun
The chance to compete – competition is not a bad word and children learn to play together and to see who can become the best kite flyer
The Bali Kite Season
People fly kites in Bali all year round but the best “season” for it is in the dry season from June to October when there are pleasant onshore breezes from the ocean.
Bali Kite Festival
This annual event takes place in the Padang Galak area of Sanur Beach in Bali.
It’s all about giant kites (roughly 4 meters by 10 meters) and the teams come from the “banjar” (neighbourhoods or villages) around Denpasar.
A team consists of around 70-80 people and includes the kite flyers, the Gameland Band, and more.
The team loses if their kite comes into contact with the floor and there’s a certain amount of panic if the kite looks like it might end up stuck in the rice fields as the water can badly damage a kite.
There is also a competition for kite designers at the same time and there is no end of creativity brought to bear on this part of the festival.
You can find kites made in shapes as varied as the various Hindu Deities to the products of the events’ sponsors!
Interestingly, the materials used for these kites are always bamboo and cotton as opposed to paper or silk.
The festival brings in audiences from all over the world and some of the world’s top professional kite flyers also attend.
FAQs
How Long Does The Bali Kite Festival Last?
It depends on the teams and the weather. The Bali Kite Festival begins in June and usually finishes in August or September but it can run as late as October.
Kite flying is a complex sport and each team must be given an equal amount of time to demonstrate their prowess, which means that they have to account for the weather as well as the number of teams that take part.
What Is The Balinese Word For Kite?
Kites are known generally as “layang layang” in Balinese.
However, a Bebean Kite is one which is shaped like a fish, a Janggan Kite is one that’s shaped like a dragon or long-tailed bird and a Pecukan Kite is one that’s shaped like a leaf.
Is It OK To Fly A Kite In Bali?
Yes! Flying kites is a hobby in Bali and everyone is welcome to take part and fly kites. You can buy a kite-making kit in many of the local stores and then go out and fly your kite.
If you’re not sure how to fly a kite, don’t worry, Balinese culture is very hospitable and if somebody sees you out trying to get a kite to take off, they’ll soon come over and offer some assistance and guidance to get the best out of your kite.
What Do The Kites In Bali Mean?
Traditional kites are an offering to the Gods and a prayer for a good harvest. Balinese kites are flag bearers for the Hindu faith.
What Is Kite Season In Bali?
Kite season begins when the winds begin with the dry season in July and runs through August and sometimes into September and October.
It’s the time of year when Balinese kites are flown competitively and nearly everyone on the island turns their hand to kite flying for fun.
What Are The Big Kites In Bali?
There are three forms of traditional kite in Bali and for a major event such as the kite festival, they can each be built to very large scales for whole teams to fly together and demonstrate their skills.
Where Is The Biggest Kite Festival In The World?
The annual kite festival in Bali is very impressive but the biggest such festival takes place in China at a place called Weifang in April every year.
Weifang is believed to be the birthplace of the concept of flying kites in Asia and the city takes its status very seriously. Kite flying in Weifang is a serious sport and not just a recreational activity.
How To Book A Bali Holiday To See The Kite Festival
We always recommend that you book a holiday to Bali through the amazing people at the Bali Res Centre, a locally owned and operated travel service that specializes in Balinese travel.
They can ensure you get great deals on flights and accommodation and that you’re in the right place at the right time to enjoy the Bali Kite Festival and any other activities you want to enjoy.
Final Thoughts On Kite Flying In Bali
Flying kites in Bali is a sacred duty for the Balinese people but that doesn’t mean it’s disrespectful for visitors to take up flying kites, quite to the contrary, in fact.
The best time of year to see kites in Bali is during the festival that runs from July to August (and sometimes later) but there are kites in Bali all year long and you can be sure that spending some time flying kites here will be fun and entertaining.
If you love to fly things in Bali, you may also appreciate our guide to drones in Bali – they’re a bit more expensive than kites, but can be a huge amount of fun too.
