Easter is the most important celebration of the Christmas calendar. It is preceded by Lent – a forty day period of fasting and giving of alms. After the fasting, Easter brings celebrations. Jesus is risen!There are many Easter traditions here in Guyana. Of recent we have begun the egg decorating and hunting for the colourful eggs, this is done mainly by the children. We bake cross buns on Holy Thursday, go to church for the entire Easter weekend: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
Easter Monday is our traditional kite flying day but weeks before this day arrives, kites are already dotting the sky. Schools hold kite making competitions and also have a special day for kite flying.
But how did kites come about in the first place? Kites were invented in China. Back then they were used primarily for military purposes. These early kites were large wooden kites called Muyuan. These were used to spy on enemy positions, for signalling and dropping propaganda leaflets over enemy forces. Kites were even used to catch fish by early natives living in the South Sea Islands.
As kite flying spread to Europe compliments of Marco Polo, it soon got to North and South America. One of the most famous kites in history was created and flown by Benjamin Franklyn in 1750 during a thunderstorm. He set out to prove that lightening was caused by electricity. And prove it he did.
Soon kites were being used for all sorts of things, human flight, science, meteorology, photography and many very popular kite sailing sports. Kite landboarding, kite boating, kite surfing and snow kiting are among the most popular.
In Guyana we have our own Easter traditions. On Easter Monday the sky over populated areas in Georgetown, East Coast of Demerara, East Bank of Demerara and Essequibo are teeming with kites of all sizes, colours and styles.
National Park, Joe Vieira’s Park, Sports Grounds, open fields, the Sea Walls and many streets, yards, veranda’s and roofs will be swarming with exciting kite flyers of all ages. Kite makers will cash in and their creations will bring joy to many hearts.
For the numerous people who cannot afford kites, generous people like the President will donate kites to hundreds of grateful children.
I traversed some parts off GT and spoke to kite makers, kite flyers and Kaddy Old Punch experts. They all express one joy at Easter – seeing their kites soar into the blue sky. School was out because of the Easter break so many kids were enjoying the sunshine and testing out their new kites.
An industry dominated by men, I met a Female Kitemaker. Malini Bacchus works in the family kite making business with her husband Inshan and an uncle. She has been creating kites for more than eight years. She remembers fondly her earliest kite flying experiences.
“My father made one kite every Easter. There were four children and he told us we had to share it. We all took turns flying the precious kite. Sometimes it survived the season and was put away for the next year.”
She showed me a four feet kite that belonged to her son Isaiah. Inshan, her husband is a self-made kite maker. He has been in the business for over 32 years. A barber by trade, he and his family create between 600 to 1000 kits every year. Whenever a customer visits Creative Barber Shop on Mandela Avenue in Alexander Village they will see an assortment of kites on display there. It is here Inshan plies both of his trades.
This kite family creates an assortment of kites every year. He gave me the following list of different types of kites.
– Star Point
– Pointer Tips
– Cartoon Characters
– Bird Kites
– Box Kites
– Heart Kites
– Patch Work
Work on these kites begin between December and January. Wood (Siparuta) is bought and prepared. Except for bamboo, all of the other material are imported. This pushes the price of the kites up. With the mass importation of Chinese Kites, the local kits makers suffer losses. The foreign kites are cheaper and found everywhere.
A typical kite consists of materials such as wood, nail, bamboo, plastic or grease proof paper, Barbados paper, rope, twine, thread, cheese paper and kite paper. From nine inches to nine feet, the kites can be created to do any of the following: pulling, swinging, swooping, mounting, fighting and madly pitching and bucking. There are the majestic mounting kites, the stubborn pulling kites and the battle kites created primarily for aerial combat. These gladiators are equipped with razors in the tail. They are designed to destroy any kite that ventures near. The only arch enemy of the kite is a sudden heavy downpour of rain.
This event has caused many kites to plunge from the sky minus all the lovely paper and decorations. Sad faces- some tear streaked- head home with a frame, soggy, drooping strands of paper and tangled twine everywhere.
But there is the marathon kites. When they go up, they stay up. Many nights you can lie in bed and still hear the drone of kites flying proudly. The flyer has taken a more discrete posture – horizontal meditation.
Time for me to go to the Sea Walls and fly my kite. I have taken great care with it so as to ensure that it is not damaged. It’s cheap but as much a kite as any other. Yes, you guessed it. This year I am flying my Kaddy Old Punch made from pointer, an exercise book middle page, some thread and a small tail. It will rise majestically to rub shoulders with all the others. In case it rains or it is damaged I will not worry. I have walked with an exercise book and a few pointers. Spare parts are going to be no problem.
A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL GUYANESE!

By Neil Primus