17th Jan, 2010: GB goes Kite Flying!

GB goes Kite Flying on Sunday 17 January 2010!

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Time: 3:30 pm onwards.

Venue: Juhu beach.
For the general convenience, We will not be flying kites on the main Juhu stretch near the Shivaji statue because it’s too crowded now. We’re going to move further down to that patch down the lane near Tulip Star Hotel. We shall be setting up a blue, medium-sized, camping tent on the beach, so please look out for it.

Location: Vile Parle (West) is the closest train station.

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SANKRANTI: It’s January and in Gujarat and Maharashtra that means just one thing: it’s time to start flying kites again! At this time of the year the breezes are strong and the weather is pleasant enough for people to spend all day flying kites from their rooftops. Go to Bhuleshwar, one of the older districts in Bombay, and you’ll find the streets full of makeshift kite shops and the skies full of kites.

In particular people fly kites on Makar Sankranti in Maharashtra and Utraan in Gujarat. It symbolises the begining of the sun’s journey towards the northern hemisphere. This year Makar Sankranti falls on Saturday 14 January and, for the fifth time, Gaybombay will be celebrating it by flying kites on the following Sunday.

Everyone who came last year can tell you what a blast we had; after we finished flying the kites we looked for other means to have fun on Juhu beach.

Kite flying is a delicate thing. It’s all about the skill at handling the wind and the manja (the thread); when to let the manja go slack and when to pull abruptly. We have some pretty good kite flyers among us. So it’s going to be an interesting evening.

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There’s obviously no cost for this meet. We’ll be buying a certain number of kites. But you’re welcome to bring your own kites and, even more important, your manja (the kite flying thread). Just try to make sure the kites are pink. See you there!

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` GB, as a support group, has created this comfort/safe space for gays. Many people at the event may be “newbies” (those still coming to terms with their sexuality and/or those who have mustered the courage to come to such an event for the first time). We request you to be sensitive to the comfort levels of others and to behave and dress accordingly.

` You have to be above the age of 18 to attend this event.

Some pictures taken through the years.