Hilath's Home Page - Diamonds are Forever, in Ramazan

Diamonds are forever, in Ramazan

by Hilath Rasheed

Mohamed Fazeel and his friend Hassan Ali ride to artificial beach, their stunt kite in hand. For them the Ramazan sun sets everyday while engrossed in flying their blue-green-yellow Diamond kite over the light blue artificial lagoon.

"This is the best way to pass the fast. Last year, too, we spent our time like this," said 18-year-old Fazeel.

Kite flying has been in Maldivian tradition for centuries but in later years hi-tech kites have replaced the more traditional ones such as Raa Raa Gudi, Thelanga and the common Madi.

For youngsters, the "in" thing in kite flying nowadays is the "Diamond" stunt kite (pictured above). They can be found buzzing over Male skyline not only in the late afternoon hours just before sunset -- the breakfast time during Ramazan -- but the sport also goes well into late evening, and occasionally, one can sight a lone flier in the wee hours of early morning.

The handles and flying lines, used to control the kites, are "much easier to control," says Ibrahim Nazim, 27, who goes to artificial beach quite often during Ramazan to fly Diamond kites.

Being a dual line kite, which is gaining more popularity among the sport fans than the single line kites, Diamonds are one of the easiest kites to fly. They adjust automatically to gentle or fresh winds, and their long tails make launching a snap, even in gusty winds.

The sail of the kite - the cloth that is put around the kite's frame - is made from a rip-stop, high performance fabric, such as nylon or polyester.

The Diamond are used to perform tricks and there are no limits to what this kite can do: 360, Axel, Backflip, Cartwheel, Cuckoo clock, Black hole, Helicopter, Walking, Pancake, Stall, Yoyo, all these and more are just a few of the many tricks that these kites, with a little experience of the flyer, can achieve.

Also called Sport Kites, stunters have revolutionized kite flying in the past few years. Flying a stunter is much more exciting than traditional kite flying which involves using a firoashi and string (or barani).

Kites or gudi had received royal blessing then.

The wind-supported flying device or rudimentary airfoil, consisting of a wooden or similar framework covered with paper, cloth or synthetic material, were always flown for pleasure. Most youngsters settle for the common Madi, a diamond shaped kite whose sail is made from either paper or plastic. Attached to a long string, the kite can be sent aloft through the action of the wind on its surfaces, its distance or height controlled from the ground by playing out the string.

Today kite flying is a popular pastime and a competitive sport. In eastern Asia, special competitions are held in which the kites are elaborately designed and decorated in the forms of birds, fish, or dragons and may be equipped with whistles or pipes that emit musical sounds as the wind blows through them.

In countries such as Australia, America, Switzerland and South Africa
Kite-fighting contests are also held, in which competitors attempt to use their kites to attack and down the kites of opponents.

Also used for aerial photography, kites have become one of the easiest and most enjoyable hobbies. Endless hours can be spent running in the breeze with a homemade one-liner, or you can choose to spend your money on a strong stunt/power kite that will pull you along, maybe even lift you in a strong enough gust.

Kites had made their appearance over three thousand years ago, in China. All the right materials were found there for it's making: bamboo for the frame, and silk for the sail and bridle. It had a mythical and religious dimension. Later it was experimented as a science instrument for various researches.

From China, the kite was reproduced throughout Asia, then later, in Europe, and now, in the modern age, in America, Australia and other countries.

Nowadays hi-tech stunt or power kites have been made according to the laws of aerodynamics (the principles of physics and the study of the way in which objects move through the air) to give kites their maximum potential as identified flying objects.

Diamonds and other ultralights need amazingly little wind to fly. Made as lightweight as possible with graphite spars, they are a bit fragile for inexperienced fliers to learn on. But once you are into the sport, it is more like controlling a game with a joystick.

And it has become an expensive sport, too. Diamonds do not come cheap; their prices range from 100 to 400 US dollars or maybe more.

But price does not hinder their popularity. They are sold on arrival.

"We imported around a 100 kites for Ramazan. It has been a sell-out," a spokesman from Sonee Sports which imports Diamond kites told Haveeru, adding that it took only six days for their whole kite stock to get sold out.

"Price does not matter, I think," said kite fan Fazeel. "It's the satisfaction that counts," he said.

"Sometimes I feel the Diamond part of me," he added.

Looks like Diamonds are forever, here to fly.

This article appeared in Haveeru Daily on 25 Dec 1999