Go Fly A Kite

The humble kite has certainly come a long way. It was used as a tool during war time and now it is used as a recreational tool.

Kite flying is an activity that is indulged by Singaporeans from all walks of life. Not only is it an affordable activity , there are various beautiful designs to choose from.

Some of the hottest spots to go kite flying are Marina Barrage and Sengkang Park. It is a wonderful sight when you look up to the skies and see it filled with many kites that have catching designs. You might even spot a green snake flying in the sky!

Join us as we go on a trail to discover why do Singaporeans enjoy kite flying. Discover how the kite has evolved from a simple paper kite to one with a more sophisticated design.

Written by Kamilia

Origins of Kite Flying

Many would perceive kite flying as a game or just any leisure activity. However kites were flown for many reasons before it took on the role of a leisure activity.
Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in the storm to prove that lightning generates electricity. Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright brothers also experimented with very large man-lifting kites.

Kites were even used for military purposes. They were used to signal the arrival and position of enemies and to deliver ammunition. Kites were even used for aerial photography. During 1392-1910, kites were used by Admiral Yi of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea to command and navigate his navy.

Kites also illustrate the cultures around the world particularly those of Asia. In North India, Makar Sankranti is a spring festival celebrated to identify a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness. Millions all over the country fly their kites to celebrate this period of happiness. In Afghanistan, there are kite fighting cultural activities. Grounded glass powder and glue is rubbed on kite strings in the attempt to cut the competitor’s kite string.

Now aside from just kite flying, there are sporting activities such as kite surfing which is the latest craze in water sports. Kite surfing is a breed of surfing and kiting.

Some people even use kites to fish!

Hence the next time you see kites in the air. Think twice before saying that it is just a mere kite.

Written by Nadrah


Our Journey to find Kite Flying in Singapore

We went over to Marina barrage at around 4pm. The sky was not promising. It was very dark and it looked as if it was going to rain at any moment. But we still went ahead. We were lucky it was not raining yet, so we could get some photos and video footages. The place was still crowded and there were many people there despite the obvious warning of the impending rain.

After this, we moved on to the big field at Seng Kang. It was already drizzling there but there were still people flying their kites and they did not seem like they were leaving any time soon.

After getting our photos and video footages, we moved on to a big field beside Woodlands. The sky was very dark there and people seemed to be packing up. We could not get much photos or video here because it was drizzling very heavily. It was surprising to see people willing to carry on flying their kites even though it was raining.

Written by Sunesh