Kite-flying is one of those simple pleasures that can transcend borders, and people from all countries and walks of life have delighted in the simple thrill of throwing a kite skyward and watching it dance on the wind.

Kite-flying is one of those simple pleasures that can transcend borders, and people from all countries and all walks of life have delighted in the simple thrill of throwing a kite skyward and watching it dance on the wind.

The first recorded kites were found in China nearly 3,000 years ago, when they were used for all manner of things: signalling, lifting, military operations, measuring distances or simply testing the wind. Kites soon sprang up all over the world, and though their exact date of arrival in Malaysia is not known, they quickly became an important part of the traditions of the local people.

As the kite phenomenon spread throughout the land, most states developed their own style of kites and these beautiful creations were traditionally flown to celebrate a good harvest. Kite-making has always been seen as a real skill, and none attracts more attention than the kites that are created in the Eastern states of the peninsula, particularly in Kuantan and Terrenganu, where their distinctive style of kites – known as the wau - have become something of a cultural symbol as well as a huge tourist draw.

Now you no longer need to have stepped foot in the eastern states to be familiar with the wau. These kites have become a national icon, appearing on the back of some 50 sen pieces as well as inspiring the logo for the national carrier Malaysia Airlines. Souvenir shops are full with ornamental waus of all shapes and sizes, and many a tourist suitcase returns home full of waus for relatives and friends.

The wau has been flown in Malaysia for a variety of reasons, and in Kuantan it was thought to be able to ward away evil spirits thanks to a small device called a busul. This device was attached to the frame of the kite and made a humming noise when the kite is in flight, scaring away any nasties lurking in the area.

The word wau is often translated as “kite”, but it actually got its name from the Arabic letter that is pronounced “wau” that bears a resemblance to the distinctive shape of the kite.

The waus are made using bamboo sticks that are bent into the distinctive shape and tied with string, before being covered in tissue paper or fabric. They are often elaborately decorated in a traditional style, sometimes covered with batik, and are prized for their aesthetic beauty as well as their ability to fly well. Making a wau takes a lot of skill and craftsmanship, and those who possess the skills are highly valued in the kite-flying community in Kuantan and Terrenganu.

And while the wau is becoming an icon and a must-have souvenir, these kites are still hugely popular for their original function – flying – and while many people indulge in the past-time for sheer pleasure, many more delight in taking part in the various contests that are held all over the country. Kites are judged in every way you can imagine: from how good they look to whether they can knock other kites out of the air and, of course, how high they can fly.

The biggest kiting contest on the calendar is undoubtedly the Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival, which has been an annual event since its inception in 1995 and is steadily growing into a huge national and international event. Pasir Gudang is a small town east of Johor, but for 6 days each February it is swamped with kite-enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.Competitors come with their kites from as far away as Europe, while thousands of spectators gather just to watch them in action and admire the beauty and the sheer variety of the kites on display.

The event also offers demonstrations, impressive ground displays and a fiesta type arrangement of stalls selling food, drinks and all the kite-related paraphernalia you can imagine. There is even a kite museum in the grounds of the competition site, and people of all nations and races come together to celebrate the age-old pleasure of kites.

It is remarkable, in this world of modern technology, that something as simple as the humble kite can have prospered for so long. Kites have been a part of our culture for thousands of years and yet never grown old. Indeed, most interestingly, it seems kites appeared in many countries simultaneously rather than having been spread via travellers, thus suggesting that human beings worldwide were, and remain to be, magnetically attracted to the magical process of flight. For a little piece of the magic this year, Pasir Gudang is the place to be.

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Note: The Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival, 15-20 February
www.kitefestpasirgudang.com