Thailand's kite festival not just about fun, but livelihood too

Thailand's annual kite festival is held during the summer months from March to May and usually attracts large crowds.

However, for one small group of people, the 700-year old festival is not just about fun but it's also about their livelihood.
Bangkok's Royal Plaza, located in front of the Palace, is by far the most popular spot for kite flying in the city.
Thais of all ages come out to have some good old-fashion fun.

The cheapest kite you can find here will only cost you as little as 25 US cents.

The most expensive can run as high as 10 dollars.

It's estimated that there are more than a thousand kite makers and vendors throughout the country.

Most stand in the sun all day to make very little profit.

And although the weekends of March and April are their busiest periods, weekdays are a whole different story.

"On weekdays, sales are low. They only start to pick up after 3pm. Some days I sit here from morning and the only thing I earn is a sunburn," said a kite vendor.

On a Saturday or Sunday, most vendors say they can easily make a hundred dollars within a day, but this is only during the summer months.

Since it's such a tough way to make money, how do the merchants make ends meet during the remaining eight to nine months of the year.

"After the summer months, vendors will start road trips. We travel as far south as Songkla. We stop in Hua Hin for a festival there. Then we travel onto Stoon province where sales are relatively good. Then it's onto Songkla," said a kite vendor.

Thailand's kite festival not only attracts amateurs.

Big-time professionals also come out and vie for prestigious titles in the Thai Kite Competition.

About six kites are flown at a time and each one must try to bring its opponent down.

And don't be surprised by the number of people it takes to control each kite.

The kites need to be at a certain altitude and with the gusty winds and strategic manoeuvres, you need around eight people on each team.

Each kite must "lure" the opponent to its home ground before an "attack" can take place.

Once a kite can bring its opponent down, its team earns 10 points.

If one particular team is brought down by all of its opponents, it loses.

Points are collected throughout six rounds.

The team with the most points wins the trophy awarded by the Thai royal family. - CNA

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