Among the most famous kites that will be presented on Fanø in 2025 are:

• Janggan, Bebean and Pecukan kites, all originating from Bali, are believed to be a medium for communication with the gods in the Balinese Hindu belief system as a form of gratitude for a bountiful harvest.
• Kaghati kites come from Muna, Kendari, in Southeast Sulawesi. This kite is made from kolope leaves and has the ability to fly very high and stay in the sky for days. The Kaghati also makes a loud buzzing sound that the locals use to scare away wild boars that often damage their rice crops.
• The Dandang kite is a national treasure in South Kalimantan, passed down from generation to generation. This huge kite, with its unique bamboo instrument, is a big part of local life. Dandang flying during the dry season is more than just fun; it is a symbol of local knowledge and unity.

Follow this page as we get more information of kitefliers:

BALI

GEDE EKA SURYA WIRAWAN

Growing up in a family that shared a passion for kites, Gede Eka (45) developed an interest in the game from a very young age. His grandfather was the one who introduced him to the thrill of flying kites. He started to make traditional Balinese kites from recycled plastic since he was 7 years old. The inspiration to make kites came from playing kites in the rice fields with his friends after the harvest. He has probably made over a hundred kites. But making a Janggan (traditional Balinese kite) is the most memorable for him. Balancing its long tail with the head and body to create a harmonious and stable flight is quite a challenge.

I KADEK DWI ARMIKA

Kadek (45) has loved kites since he was a child. Watching his family fly kites around the house made him want to try it himself, and now he is really into kite flying. He started making kites when he was just 5 years old, starting with simple diamond-shaped ones. When he couldn’t easily find traditional Balinese kites on the market, he was motivated to make his own using readily available materials such as paper and plastic waste.

Making his own kites allowed him to be creative and come up with designs for unique kites that reflected his imagination. He has made hundreds of kites. His most memorable experience was making Balinese kites and kites made from natural materials. This process gave him extensive hands-on experience, from troubleshooting kites that couldn’t fly to learning how to repair them until they could fly beautifully.

I KADEK HARY WIKANA

Hari (45) has been familiar with kites since he was 7 years old. He used to see people flying kites behind his house. As time went on, he started flying kites with his neighbors in the rice fields. Eventually, he became familiar with traditional Balinese kites such as the janggan, bebean, pecukan and other types. He has been making kites since elementary school. He made fighting kites with long tails.

His skills developed as he successfully made bean kites with sticks (the stalks of coconut leaves) frames and later with bamboo frames. Now, he has started experimenting with laser-cut fabric for his kites, while still using bamboo for the frame. From his early years to today, he has created countless kites. He estimates that he has made dozens, if not hundreds. Among them, the Janggan kite holds a special place in his heart. The beauty of its long tail and unique head ornament never fails to amaze him.

CENTRAL JAVA

JOKO SUJATMIKO

Since childhood, Joko Sujatmiko, or Selamet as he is often called, has been used to spending time with his grandfather making and flying kites. He learned a lot from this activity. Kites became his best teacher, where he learned about the importance of patience, precision, creativity and teamwork when flying kites.

Selamet has a diverse collection of kites, but his handmade horse kite holds a special place in his heart. Flying this giant kite for the first time was quite a challenge. Getting it out of the house, navigating narrow streets and reaching an open field was not easy. But all the efforts were worth it as the kite soared high into the sky. The feeling of seeing his own creation flying freely was unforgettable.

Selamet is really good at making kites. He loves making them and always participates in kite competitions and festivals. Because of his hard work, many people now know him and his kites. His kites are special and many people like them.

MUNA SYDØSTSULAWESI

LASIMA

Since the age of 7, Lasima (69) has been familiar with kites. His grandfather was often seen on the terrace, busy stringing kolope leaves into small kamanu-manu or large kites. These moments first fostered his love for this traditional game. Growing up as a teenager, he often flew kites while working on the farm. Guided by his grandfather, he began learning to make his own kites when he was twelve. Each kite he made was the result of a long and patient learning process.

The year 1996 marked a turning point in his life when he and his two friends (La Masili and the late Laode Pamusu) flew to Paris to bring glory to Indonesia at the International Kite Festival. It was at this international event that they first introduced the beauty and uniqueness of Kaghati kites to the world. Made entirely from natural materials such as kolope leaves, pineapple fibers, rattan and bamboo, the Kaghati managed to amaze the world. Since then, the world's eyes have been opened to the uniqueness of Kaghati, and invitations to showcase Kaghati at various international kite festivals have poured in. This has made Kaghati a globally recognized cultural ambassador of Indonesia.

SOUTH SUMATERA

MUHAMMAD YUNUS

Muhammad Yunus (69 years old) was introduced to kite flying at the age of five when his uncle often invited him to fly kites. Since then, he started to enjoy kite flying. When he was in the third grade of primary school, he became interested in kite making. At first, he would repair broken or damaged kites.

Over time, he started making his own kites to save money. He made the best use of various recycled materials such as paper and plastic bags to create kites.

Over time, he has become more and more involved in various kite festivals, both domestically and internationally. His first kite festival experience was in Bandar Lampung in 1993. Since then, he has felt more and more challenged to continue creating, and has made hundreds of kites to date. Each kite he makes is unique, inspired by his imagination, favorite cartoons and the world around him.

Of all the kites he has created, two kites in his collection hold special meaning for him and are currently on display at the Johor Kite Museum. The first is a traditional kite with a songket fabric motif, and the second is a dragon boat-shaped kite, which was his first creation. Both kites are very unique, he hopes that one day they can be designated as Palembang's (South Sumatra) signature kites.

YOGAKARTA

DANI CAHYO PRABOWO

Dani has been flying kites since 2007, especially in his village, where kite flying is popular during the dry season. His interest in traditional kites began when he was introduced to them by his neighbor, who is also a kite flyer. As time went on, Dani became even more interested after seeing a kite festival in Yogyakarta. This experience expanded his knowledge of different types of kites, not just traditional ones, and gave him the opportunity to interact with professional kite flyers in the city.

Since 2016, Dani has been producing many different types of kites, both traditional kites and creations. He doesn’t know exactly how many kites he has made, but he has probably made over a hundred kites. Among his creations, the python ( naga sanca ) kite is the kite that has the deepest impression on him. The process of making it is very long and goes through different stages of experimentation. The python kite is very special to him because it was the first kite that he designed with propellers on each part.

ISANTO RAJOKO

His fascination with kites began in 2000 when he was often invited by his friends to participate in kite competitions. From then on, he began to learn and experiment with making his own kites. In 2002, he officially joined the Passgoed Kite Club and began to take his hobby more seriously.

For almost two decades, he has explored the world of kites. He has created various types of kites and his name has become known through several kite festivals. Among all the kites he has ever made, ‘Sri Minggat’, a two-dimensional kite, has a special meaning. This kite depicts a story that will always be remembered. To this day, the kite is carefully kept in his house, only flown when he wants to recall certain memories.

He has participated in several kite festivals both nationally and internationally. Each kite festival he attends gives him the opportunity to expand his knowledge, make friendships with other kite flyers, and immerse him in the local arts and culture where the festival is held.