Sri Lanka: Where Kite Flying Traditions, Culture And Coastal Breezes Take Flight

Kite Flying in Sri Lanka | Seventy-eight-year-old Charith De Silva looks up at the sky through narrowed eyes as his nine-year-old grandson expertly navigates a two-foot-wide kite soaring high over the Galle Sea Face. De Silva is happy his grandson enjoys flying kites as much as he did as a child. “With smartphones and video games, most children no longer enjoy such small pleasures,” rues the retired bank employee who has lived through Sri Lanka’s turbulent past.

Kite flying in Sri Lanka is a vibrant tradition that spans centuries, deeply rooted in the island nation’s cultural heritage. Not only is it a lot of fun but is also a symbol of good fortune and prosperity. Kites are believed to carry prayers for blessings and success. What also makes it unique are the shapes and sizes of the kites, with creativity soaring as high as the kites themselves. Bats, snakes, fish, birds, tigers, all take flight, some spanning several feet…..| read more on Outlook TRAVELLER