Bali Kite Festival Will Kick Off This Weekend In Sanur

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Bali Kite Festival will be returning to Denpasar Coast from the 20th to the 21st of July, and tourists are invited to come and enjoy one of the island’s most colorful and exciting cultural events.

The festival will be held on the outskirts of Sanur, a resort area of Bali undergoing a huge transformation period. 

Love Bali describes the Bali Kite Festival as “an annual international kite festival held in July in the coastal area of Padang Galak, Sanur, Bali.” 

“This seasonal festival has a religious message meant to send a message to Hindu gods to provide abundant agricultural produce. The implementation of this festival has a positive impact as a means of promoting the Balinese culture and tourism.”

The Bali Tourism Authority invites the public and tourists to visit Padang Gala Beach to watch some of Indonesia’s best kite makers and flyers showcase their talents. All will be competing for the Governor’s Cup, one of the most prestigious cultural awards in the province. 

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This weekend’s festival marks the start of better winds across the province. Tourists in Bali can expect to see kites flying all over the island in the coming months, with tiny homemade kites flying above local homes, made by young children, to the huge, colorful masterpieces created by the seasoned artisans of the island.

The culture of kite flying runs deep in Bali and across Indonesia; this weekend’s festival marks the beginning of the kite flying seasons, and long-standing Bali lovers know what a magical time it is to be on the island. 

@youraccountistoast Lets go fly a kite 🤙 #bali #indonesia #kite #layanglayang ♬ Gamelan Bali Trap – Yan 394

The historical symbolism of kite flying in Bali has a wonderful story behind it. The festival started as a bright and colorful way to thank the gods for an abundant harvest and for fertility in all its forms.

Nowadays, a competitive element has been introduced to keep things a little extra interesting, but the cultural practice and significance of making and flying kites in Bali remain just as strong.

Take a moment to talk to a committed kite maker, and they will tell you in no uncertain terms that kite flying is a spiritual practice, a way of connecting with the elements and the gods. 

@dekploo_ Alon” wiee‼️ #pelayangbali #jangganplastik #sewalukitefestival #sanurbali ♬ suara asli – ~A~

Tourists are encouraged to visit Padang Galak Beach this weekend and enjoy the spectacle for themselves.

Padang Galak Beach is about 7km up the coast from Sanur Beach and the surrounding resorts, but the scenic 20-minute drive is absolutely worth it.

Padang Galak Beach is also just steps from the abandoned Bali Festival Park, visited now as a ‘ghost town’ where the security guard on duty will often run a guided tour of the old festival ground and the street art that has appeared in the area for a small fee.

A day of kite flying, street art admiration, and ghost-town exploring sounds like a pretty rounded Bali day trip to us!

Leaders in Bali want to see more of the island’s cultural festivals, ceremonies, and rituals shared with tourists in an appropriate and respectful way.

Balinese culture is deeply reverent, and while certain ceremonies and rituals will always be reserved for practice worshippers born into the faith, there are many ceremonies, dances, and festivals that can be shared with tourists to help promote cross-cultural learning and make for meaningful travel experiences. 

Speaking to reporters following the success of the recent Jatiluwih Festival at the UNESCO World Heritage Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, the Chairman of the Bali Tourism Village Communication Forum, Dewi I Made Mendra Astawa, said that more cultural festivals will bring benefits to both local communities and tourists. 

Astawa said, “[We must] take advantage of what we have. We can organize an event in a village with a budget and human resources. When it comes to existing religious and traditional activities, all that is needed is the promotional side.”