Geographical

Official magazine of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Let’s go fly a kite in Bali

3 minutes

boy running with kite ready to launch
Kadek Kocak runs as he prepares to launch his kite. Traditionally, Balinese kites have come in three colours: red to represent the Hindu god Brahma, the creator; white for Vishnu, the preserver; and black for Shiva, the destroyer. Image: Putu Sayoga

Photographer Putu Sayoga documents the traditional activity of kite flying in Bali during the June – August dry season

For the people of the Indonesian island of Bali, especially the men and boys, June to August is kite-flying season. At this time of year – the middle of the dry season – the winds shift direction and increase in strength, and the skies above Bali fill up with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes dancing on the breeze. 

a boy crouches as he reels in a kite
Kadek rolls up his kite’s string. Boys typically start to fly kites at a very young age, often a bonding experience with their fathers and/or grandfathers
a boy runs down a path holding a kite with a man watching him
Komang Agus flies his kite with his father, Kadek Mahardika 
owl design on kite
Since the Covid pandemic, kites that depict the scope owl, known as celepuk, have become increasingly popular
kites in the sky
Bebean or fish kites are the most popular kites in Bali. The fish is a symbol of prosperity on the island
boy holding a kite with an owl design
Kadek Mahardika prepares to launch his celepuk kite into the sky
man holding kite
Although rice growing is in decline on Bali as locals increasingly move into the tourism industry, kite-flying remains popular. Indeed, the kites themselves have become a tourist attraction, the annual kite festival drawing visitors from around the world
close up of boy holding kite string
A boy holds a roll of kite string. During the kite-flying season, the string from downed kites presents a potentially fatal hazard to motorcyclists
three boys ride a scooter and the last boy is holding a kite
In Bali, kite flying is nearly uniformly a male activity; however, in 2015, long-time festival commentator Putu Nurhayati founded Team Srikandi, Bali’s first all-female kite team

Find Putu Sayoga on his website and on his Instagram