Lhasa kites are popular in Lhasa, Shigatse, and neighboring Nepal. Kite-flying once prevailed among Tibetan aristocrats during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).It is said that Dalai Lama in the 13th century is a kite-lover.
The eighth month of the Tibetan calendar is the season for kite flying. The folks believe that the autumn will end soon if the kites are flied too early. There are strict regulations for kite flying in Tibet. For example, kites are only flown after The Shoton Festival in Lhasa. Different shapes and structure of the kites should be according to the users' ages to suit for their use.Kites in Tibet are usually in the shape of diamond. The difference lies in the designs painted on the kite which have beards, black heads, staring eyes, teeth, aprons, or leg bones. Hence the scene is glorious against the beautiful kites flying in the sky. Out of the kite festival, the kites are hung on the wall and regarded as the mascot for good luck.
The skill of flying a kite plays an important part in the Tibetan kites. Flying high is only part of the game; we compete with our opponents by trying to cut their kite off. When flying kites, people love to 'fight' with each other by controlling the rise and fall of kites. One loses when the thread is broken. It can be seen that the "fight" techniques are centered in the string. To ensure the high quality of string, a process in making kites is to coat the strings with a special mixture of smashed glass, rice, sugar and water to make them strong. After the mixture are boiled and cooled to a certain temperature, the crafts man will put the mixture in his hand and threading the string. The kite making is a seasonal handicraft, which are primarily produced and sold in autumn in Lhasa and Shigatse(Xigaze).The influential families of kite making skill are Ladakaqi Family in Shigatse(Xigaze) and Tsering Family in Lhasa, with their kites of exquisite craftsmanship and distinctive characteristics. However, many masters in kite making are aged and passing away gradually, rendering the skills lost.
