Bali is entering kite season. Usually, kite season takes place from May to September. During these months, the skies of Bali will be decorated with kites of various shapes and sizes.
Balinese people, from children to adults, are enthusiastic when kite season arrives. Kite flying has become a culture for them.
Expats in Bali also realize this, as illustrated by the Instagram account @chadandmiaofficial, which highlights many foreign tourists looking at the sky in Bali because it is filled with various kites.
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There are various types of traditional Balinese kites, from cotekan, bean, pecan, and celepuk to Jangan, which has a long tail dangling tens of meters. These traditional games have their roots in agrarian traditions and are popular among farmers and herders.
The three kinds of kites are the most common:
These three types of kite shapes never change in appearance as a form of respect for the ancestors.
1. Bebean, and its shape is similar to a fish’s. This kite is oriented in the eight cardinal directions, with a dot in the center.
2. Janggan, which is shaped like a dragon. The characteristic of this kite is that it has a very long tail reaching more than 100 meters.
3. Pecukan, which is shaped like a leaf. When flown, this kite will look like a leaf twisting in the wind.
The difference between traditional Balinese kites and other types of kites is the process of flying. Most Balinese kites are giant, so it takes teamwork to fly them. In Balinese terms, it is also called Menyama Braya, or the philosophy of cooperation passed down from ancestors.
Kite flyers or pelayang are also called Rare Angon, shepherd boys. Some of them form a kite-flying group or sekaa. They work together to make and fly the kites.
June marks the beginning of kite season in Bali. Have you been to Bali to see the beautiful and diverse kites?
