'Charting Harmony' Befitting Theme For World Kite Festival

JOHOR BAHARU (Johor, Malaysia), Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The theme of the 20th World Kite Festival in Pasir Gudang, 'Charting Harmony', is consistent with the festival's message which is to serve as a bridge of communication and friendship especially among kite flyers from abroad. Organising Committee chairman Md Za'nal Misran said the five-day festival, which begins Wednesday, is expected to attract 150,000 visitors from home and abroad, including over 250 participants from more than 50 countries. "This year's festival also saw the participation of new countries such as Poland, Romania, Liechtenstein, Scotland, Myanmar, Morocco and Mongolia," he said when contacted here Wednesday. The festival, expected to be launched by Tunku Mahkota Johor (Crown Prince) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Feb 27, is also expected to become a major tourist attraction to Malaysia in conjunction with the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 (MyFest 2015). Meanwhile, the head of the contingent from Kelantan, Tan Cheng Hui, 49, said people must cooperate in fostering a spirit of love for traditional games such as kite flying in the younger generation so that the game does not become extinct. "I became interested in making kites since the age of 10 because of the influence of my father who also loves kites," Tan said. -- BERNAMA