- KITE playing can be an entertaining farmers or shepherd after harvest season in the rice fields
- In keeping with the changing of times and addition of planting period, farmers no longer have break to play kites in the field. So, kite festival is then held to preserve the tradition
One of the unique agrarian cultural traditions of the Island of the Gods or Bali remaining to survive up to these days is the kite playing. Playing kite of different colors and designs can be an entertaining activity. This tradition deeply roots in the puranic story with the figure Rare Angon.
In his manifestation as Rare Angon or the God of Kites, Lord Shiva comes down to earth during the playing kite season or after the rice harvest in the fields. This atmosphere is also enlivened by the sound of the flute or the sunari (bamboo stalk that is perforated in such a way so that it sounds when blown by the wind) to attract the wind. Rare Angon is represented as a shepherd boy and now as kite enthusiasts.
After the harvest, the shepherds take advantage of the farmer’s break to play kites. The drained rice field becomes an arena for playing kites while looking after their livestock. In ancient times, farmers who planted local varieties had only two planting periods a year and dried their paddy fields during or after the harvest season. In their belief, this method can prevent their rice fields from being attacked by pests in the next planting season.
Kite Festival
In line with the changing of times, farmers are now planting three times instead of twice a year. So they no longer have a break for the shepherds to play kites. In order to preserve this tradition, Balinese people creatively hold kite festivals in the public square or in a dry rice field if happens to be available. If not mistaken, the kite festival has been organized since around 1979. Good times for play kites in Bali are from May to October when the wind blows from the East.
Then in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people through their kite grups persisted in continuing the kite festival but through online. So the spirit of Rare Angon remains to be well maintained. In general, apart from the aforementioned purposes, the kite festival also becomes a tourist attraction. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, it is usually held in August name the Bali Kites Festival.
Various Kite Designs
The Rare Angon community or kite enthusiasts have several designs that are commonly contested in kite festivals.
- Bebean – this fish-like kite is the first Balinese design and very favorite.
- Pecukan – has a design like a symmetrical double-edged leaf.
- Janggan – the characteristic of this kite has a very long tail with the head of a dragon or an eagle or a tiger. Usually there are kites of this type made sacred because from the making process to playing them passes through special rituals.
- Creation – this type does not have a standard or free design in accordance with the creations of society. There are in the form of a dancing goddess, butterflies, owls, people riding bicycles, cars and others.
Hopefully, the Covid-19 pandemic will soon pass so that people can immediately carry out their normal activities as ever before. Likewise, the physical kite festival can be organized again and the sky of Bali turns very colorful!
