Every January, the sky above Kolkata turns into a battlefield of colour, string, and competitive spirit. Vokatta — from the triumphant cry "Woh Katta!" (He cut it!) — is Eastern India's largest kite festival. This is how a city's centuries-old obsession with kites became a world-class aerial celebration, and how Fly360 became part of that sky.
Kolkata and Kites: A Bond Since the Mughal Era
Kite flying in Kolkata dates to the Mughal period, when the sport became aristocratic entertainment that filtered into every neighbourhood. On Makar Sankranti and Vishwakarma Puja, the city skies filled with Chowringhee (four-coloured) and Petkatta (two-coloured) kites fighting with glass-coated manja. Children and adults flew past sunset, watching colours collide against a crimson sky. This was not merely sport — it was a language of pride, community, and identity.
What is Vokatta? The Festival That Revived Kite Fighting
Vokatta — derived from the battle cry meaning “He cut it!” — is Kolkata’s international kite festival, launched in 2013 to formalise the city’s kite heritage on a global stage. Every year, flyers from across India and the world converge for competitive flying, live music, amusement rides, and LED night kite shows. Kites of every conceivable shape — cartoon characters, geometric patterns, massive inflatable figures — fill the sky in an unbroken canvas of motion.
Fly360 at Vokatta: Engineering Spectacle from the Ground Up
Fly360, led by master kite designer and Limca Book of Records holder Nisarg Shah, brings full engineering capability to festivals like Vokatta. Where most festivals feature standard patangs, Fly360 fields custom-built delta structures, 3D inflatable animals, 100-kite train formations, and LED night-flying rigs. With 700+ events across 4 continents, the team knows exactly how to read wind conditions, manage flight logistics, and build spectacle at scale that generates lasting crowd memory.
Flying Responsibly: Protecting Birds and the Tradition
Kite flying carries a responsibility. Glass-coated manja and cheap plastic kites injure thousands of birds across Indian cities each year. Fly360 advocates for nylon string and biodegradable ripstop nylon kite fabric — materials that deliver superior performance with dramatically reduced environmental harm. Vokatta now actively encourages the shift away from harmful materials, ensuring the tradition survives without the ecological cost that has threatened its reputation.
Kolkata kite flying during Vishwakarma Puja is a tradition as old as the city itself and seeing it documented and promoted is wonderful. The Maidan and rooftops of North Kolkata filled with kites on this day is one of the most beautiful sights in the city. Fly360 elevated the event to a new level of organisation and scale. Bring more events to City of Joy!
The article beautifully captures how kite flying in Kolkata is an integral part of the Puja calendar. The 3D tiger kites from Fly360 displayed here are extraordinary — Bengal tiger imagery on a kite flying over Kolkata is such a powerful symbol! Would love to see these kites during Durga Puja as part of the cultural programming. The visual would be incredible!
France and India have a beautiful friendship and Kolkata in particular has strong French cultural connections. This article about the Kolkata kite festival makes me want to visit during the festival season! The combination of colonial architecture, vibrant culture, and now a spectacular kite festival makes Kolkata one of the most compelling cultural destinations in Asia. Bravo Fly360!
Growing up in Purulia, kite flying was our biggest annual celebration but we had very little exposure to the professional kite designs and techniques that Fly360 brings. This article opened our eyes to what a kite festival can become when done professionally. We are now hoping to attract Fly360 to organise something special for our district’s anniversary celebrations next year!
Kolkata’s kite culture has been growing stronger each year and Fly360 deserves enormous credit for professionalising these events. The annual festival now draws participants from across West Bengal and neighbouring states. The economic impact on local kite makers and vendors has been very positive too. Culture and commerce working together beautifully — this is what sustainable cultural promotion looks like!