Rain plays spoilsport on final day of Mangaluru International Kite Festival

Inclement weather and rain played spoilsport on the second and last day of ONGC-MRPL Mangaluru International Kite Festival at Tannirbhavi beach on Sunday.

Inclement weather and rain played spoilsport on the second and last day of ONGC-MRPL Mangaluru International Kite Festival at Tannirbhavi beach on Sunday.

Many people gathered at the beach were disappointed as participants could not fly their kites due to unfavourable wind conditions. Kites of many flyers got drenched in the sudden rain in the afternoon.

There was cloudy weather and some parts of Mangaluru, including Tannirbavi, experienced unseasonal rains in the afternoon.

Members of Team Mangalore Trust, which organised the event, announced to the gathering at the beach that they were helpless due to unfavourable weather.

Tourist Sushma Prapullachandra told The Hindu that she had come to the beach all the way from Tirthahalli with her child and husband particularly to witness the kite festival after learning about it through social media. “I am very disappointed,” she said. She said that since it was Sunday there was heavy footfall at the beach and people were still coming in till late evening. “We waited from about 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the beach expecting the weather to improve. But it did not. Lack of wind spoiled the entire event.”

Sarvesh Rao, founder, Team Mangalore Trust, told The Hindu that the participants could fly kites only from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. “Later, the weather turned cloudy and it rained. As there was no wind, kites could not be flown later,” he said.

Mr. Rao said it was the first time unfavourable weather hit the kite festival in Mangaluru.