Flying a Kite in Northeastern Thailand

We back again for travel experience, this time; I’m going to talk about flying a kite. Yea, that right! Flying a kite. Past weekend I was watching a movie Monster House, one of the guy talk about his awesome kite and I too used to have an awesome kite when I was a kid. I remember when, in the good summer day, my father will took me the field and fly a kite together, nothing but only good time. Thai people have been flying a kite for a long long time. We even have a competition either who have the most beautify kite or who will have a strongest kite. Then it occurred to me, I should talk about flying a kite in Thailand. So, here you go, let find out with me whether flying a kite in my county caught your attention at all.

Isan, is what we call Northeastern area in Thailand and they sure, flying a kite here for a long time. As same as people in another areas, from the past before internet, Facebook, Whatapps, and Line; after they harvest their crops the villagers will build a kite for flying for their entertainment activity. Today, with all the new technology we living in the fast pace environment. Many open field turned to estate property for business. We hardly see the kid or family take their kid out flying kite anymore.

 However, there is still group of people who see this tradition and want to reserve and pass on to next generation. Sheriff Huai Rat, Buriram province has inherited this flying kite tradition as a local wisdom since 1986, that is 30 years total.

A kite, we call it “Wow” in Thai language. Flying kite in Isan, in each area will have different name to call it. The name of the kite they call throughout Northeastern such as “Wow Song Hong”, “Wow Mea Loog”, “Wow Aag”, and “Wow Ta Nu” Whatever they mention all these names, it going to be the same awesome kite.

Flying kite in Northeast will have it in very short period, about 1-2 months only. They will start flying kite around November to December of every year. Because at this time there will be the monsoon from northeast blowing through that local villagers call “Lom Bon” The wind will blow through the night, thus, flying kite will be at night between 5 PM until 5 o’clock in the morning or 6 o’clock in the morning. Flying kite in Northeast mostly will have a hidden purpose of the sacrifice or predication. This can link to the old prophet that will predict the plenty of cereal crops. Other believes the old say, if the kite is flying sky high throughout the night, the crops and rain will flourish next year. A kite from northeast create mourning noise that people believe that noise is create bad karma. So when they finish with flying kite, they will cut the kite off like lose all the bad karma away.

At Buriram province flying kite ceremony will have the flying traditional kite (Wow Aag) the rule is to build the kite with all the natural material like bamboos, paper, and sugar palm leafs. The competitors will have to leave their kite that they build throughout the night and the winner’s kite will have to fly all night until the next morning.

Remember the noises that kite will create when flying them? Well now they adapt to have a competition about whose kite make the prettiest noise win as well. The flying kite festival also has some foreign tourist interest to participate in the festival by bring their kite and show it in this festival as well.

Beside the flying kite, they are pageant contest for this kite festival, merit, shows, and live music throughout the night. The local products also sell in this festival so you can check them out as a souvenir for your friends and family.

Your end of the year activity can be more exotic by visit Huai Rat District Buriram province. Experience the winter of northeast at the flying kite festival and see their local lifestyles that have been continue for generations.

The other interesting point that you can visit once you in Buriram province:

There are many places that I will talk about it more on next blog. I still encourage you guys to post and share experience about the trip and maybe some request or suggestion of the places that you want me to talk about. Again my team and I just create a brand new group page on Facebook name “backpacker” you guys can use this group page as a meet up center and information exchange of traveling or just to looking for friends while you are traveling abroad. Join us and explore your adventure spirit, until then “Keep on traveling”
Photo Credit:  tourismthailand