Thousands of kites celebrate the Mel Tanjung Kite Festival at Mertasari Beach, Sanur

Denpasar (National Archipelagic Wire) - A total of 1,685 kites of various types, traditional and creative, enlivened the Mel Tanjung Kite Festival (MTKF) XVII 2026 in the Mertasari Beach area, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali, Sunday.

The festival held by ST. Eka Dharma, Banjar Tanjung, Sanur Kauh Village, was officially opened by Deputy Mayor of Denpasar I Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa, marked by pulling kites in the beach area before continuing with watching the competition.

Mel Tanjung Kite Festival Trustee I Wayan Mariyana Wandhira said that this year's MTKF carries the theme "Bhumi Samudra Akasa Sanggama", describing the harmony between land, sea and air as the foundation for the birth and preservation of culture from one generation to the next.

"The implementation of this activity is a vehicle to provide space for the kites to move so that flying kites still prioritizes a sense of responsibility and increases the sense of togetherness among the younger generation and the serving community in particular," he said.

He explained that MTKF XVII is a space for people to maintain the existence of traditional kites amidst the times.

Kites, he said, are not just a game, but are also part of a cultural activity that is passed down from generation to generation.

To attract the interest of various groups, the committee presents a number of competition categories. The categories competed include teenagers and adults with traditional and creative types of kites.

A number of traditional kites were contested, including Bebean, Bebean Big Size, Janggan, Janggan Buntut, Janggan Buntut Big Size, Pecuk, and mini kites. The committee also presented a series of plastic kites and plops.

Especially for traditional kites, participants are required to use cloth with Balinese colors, namely red, yellow, black and white. This provision is one way to maintain the visual character of traditional Balinese kites in every competition.

MTKF XVII participants come from sekaa (youth associations), clubs and individuals.