ENTER THE KITE-FLYING SEASON
In the summer months of March, April and May. a southerly wind sweeps across the open fields heralding the kite-flying season.

Kite-flying has been a popular Thai sport for centuries. Thai kites are classified as being "flat" or 3-dimensional. The more elaborate kites such as those taking on the more complex forms of birds or humans are usually 3-dimensional. At the annual Thailand International Kites Festival, the unique identity of Thai kites is showcased.

Ordinary Thai kites come in all shapes and sizes with the popular ones featuring owls, fishes, various faces and serpents and ranging from inches up to 25 feet in size. These kites are usually flown for fun.

The Pakpao Tail-Kite: A dainty diamond-shaped with a long tail and looped string snare

The Pakpao Tail-Kite:
A dainty diamond-shaped with a long tail and looped string snare

The "Pakpao" and "Chula" kites however are symbols of a national sport played and patronized by the Thai kings throughout history and the battle between the male Chula and female Pakpao kites is the highlight of kite festivals.

The dainty diamond-shaped "Pakpao" kite with its distinctive long, starched cloth tail is the female kite. At 2.5 feet, Pakpao is nimble. Speed and agility is the main weapon of offence and defence.

The Chula Star-Kite: A 5-point star-shaped kite armed with grappling hooks called champah

The Chula Star-Kite:
A 5-point star-shaped kite armed with grappling hooks called champah

With a frame that measures 5 to 7 feet in length, the 5-point star-shaped Chula kite, the male kite, swings like a pendulum in the wind. In competitive kite-fighting, the Chula kite reaches up to an impressive 80 feet in size.

Kite-flying has become a popular sport worldwide with modern-day and stunt kites adding to the colour and diversity of the Thailand International Kites Festival.

The modern-day kites come in different shapes and forms and are made from modern materials, often featuring the latest technology. They have much larger frames and are impressive. These new developments have also led to a variety of kite-flying styles.

A GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL KITE-FIGHTING CONTESTS

KITE-FIGHTING
The choice of a kite varies with the prevailing conditions. In the face of strong, gusty winds, a heavier kite with a stronger, more durable frame is flown. In moderate winds, a medium-weight kite is ideal, and in lighter breezes, a light-weight kite performs better.

KITE-STRINGS
Depending on the weight of the kite, the kite-string varies accordingly. Unlike nylon which stretches when pulled and results in a slower, more sluggish performance, traditional kite-strings known as pan are responsive to the tug of the fingers and gives the kite-flier better control of the kite. As the kite rides the wind, the soft vibrations of its frame is transmitted via the string to the fingers. With a gentle tug of the string, the energy is transmitted via the sting and the kite quickly responds.

KITE-FIGHTING CONTESTS
The sole purpose of the kite-fighting contest is to entrap or snare, or to rip and destroy the rival kite, ultimately downing the competition.

The tournament area is divided into 2 sections demarcated by a fence or a line of string supported by bamboo poles. The windward section belongs to the Chula star-kite. The leeward section belongs to the Pakpao tail-kite. According to the rules of the tournament, a minimum of 2 Chula and 4 Pakpao teams must be entered into the competition.

A Chula team consists of the "Captain", a handler or two who are the individuals who fly the kites, and a team of players who run with the string when the captain signals the orders which are usually sounded on a whistle.

The so-called weapons of the male-kite Chula consist of a number of champah - strips of split bamboo formed into grappling hooks which are spaced out along the string at intervals as specified by the rules. There may be a minimum of three or a maximum of five champah depending on the size of the kite. Chula kites may enter in either one of two divisions - large or small.

The dainty diamond-shaped Pakpao uses her long, starched cloth tail and the semi-circular looped string that hangs from the main string that files her as a snare to trap the opponent but primarily relies on speed and agility to beat Chula.

There are fifty rules governing the contests between the Pakpao and Chula teams which must be rigidly adhered to. For example, when within Pakpao territory, Chula needs to keep within a corridor of attack allocated to it. Contests are often timed and Chula makes its sortie into Pakpao territory in an effort to entangle and force down the maximum number of Pakpao attackers within the Chula corridor. However the rules stipulate that in each sortie, Chula is only permitted to down a maximum of 2 Pakpao kites for which Chula receives a credit of 20 points. However if 3 Pakpao kites are downed, the third Pakpao attacker is liable to a fine.

OBSERVING THE KITE GAME
WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The Chula star-kite entangles the Pakpao tail-kite so the Pakpao kite line is shorter from the point of entanglement than Chula's. Or the Pakpao kite is entangled in her own tail, or the loop of the Pakpao tail-kite is entangled in the Champah hooks, or the Pakpao kite goes through the triangular line of the Chula kite and is snared. In such cases, if the Chula kite is able to make a home-run with the rival kite and land in its own territory, Chula is the pronounced the winner.

When either the Chula or Pakpao kite has sustained damage to the kite such as broken wing, broken leg, busted sound string, tears in the kite so the kite spins, or a tear in the kite that is larger than the regulated size, and if the Chula star-kite is able to land within its own territory, it is the winner. However if it falls within the Pakpao tail-kite territory, Chula loses.

If Chula is caught in the loop of the Pakpao tail-kite but lands safely in its own territory, Chula wins. If it lands in Pakpao territory, Chula loses.

If Pakpao's kite line goes through the Chula triangular line or winds around it without being caught in the hooks and the Chula star-kite lands within its territory, Chula is the winner.

If it falls within Pakpao territory with evidence of the Pakpao body, tail or string caught within the Chula kite, that counts as a draw.

If Pakpao's body is lost but its tail remains on the Chula line, or if the Pakpao tail is lost but the body remains, the Chula kite is considered a winner.

In the event that Pakpao's tail is entangled in the Chula kite and is carried away towards Chula territory and Pakpao 'revives', Chula has to continue the contest by prolonging its line again. In the event that Pakpao is already well-within Chula territory by the time the tail-kite is revived, it is a draw.

In any one sortie, the Chula star-kite is only permitted to contest a maximum of 2 Pakpao tail-kites.

If the Chula kite, after being entangled in a Pakpao kite, breaks away with the Pakpao kite still attached, Chula loses.

Note:
In addition to each of the 2 kite teams being assigned their own 'territory', with Chula in the windward section and Pakpao in the leeward section, "air space" is also divided into corridors.

Chula is only permitted to fly within this corridor demarcated by the two red flags flying on the boundaries of the allocated zone. Pakpao's boundary is marked by white flags. If flags of the colour of any of the kites on the respective teams are hoisted in the opponent's territory, there is no contest between the two teams and the kites have to be brought down.

TRADITIONAL KITE-MAKING

Making the frame
The most important step in this process is the selection of the right material. Bamboo that is 3 years of age is deemed to be ideal for the purpose as the bamboo is durable but pliable, readily bending to neatly fit the frame of the kite.

Cutting the bamboo
The bottom 3-metre section of the bamboo, measured from its base, is solid and is used for the body of the kite. The portion above this 3-metre mark is used for the "wing" and "leg" of the kite. It is also essential to pick a grove of bamboo that receives equal sunlight from the east and west.

Cutting and splicing the bamboo
As the bamboo is cut and spliced to fit the fame of the kite, a special technique is applied by the villagers to make the bamboo strips more pliable. The spliced bamboo is initially coated with toddy palm sugar and subject to low heat. The sugar melts and coats the strips. The coated bamboo can be shaped more easily if it is cut when the melted sugar cools but the core of the bamboo is still warm.

Assembling the pieces
The individual pieces are then assembled and mulberry ("sa") paper is fitted into the frame. According to ancient traditions, the sa paper is applied in the cool of the morning so as it warms in the heat of the day, the paper becomes perfectly taut.

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