Culture Ministry urges youths to promote, conserve Cambodian kites

Culture and Fine arts Ministry has urged youths to promote and conserve Cambodian kites to prevent them from vanishing in the future as it is an intangible culture.

The call was made when the kite flying event was held in front of the famed Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap city on Friday. The kite-flying event was held as part of celebrating the designation of Siem Reap as ASEAN City of Culture 2021-2022.

Roeun Sareth, the ministry’s deputy director of the Department of Cultural Development, said that few youths are aware of Cambodian Khleng Ek, do not know how to make it and this could lead to its disappearance.

“We must not forget about Khleng Ek,” he said, noting that before the Covid-19 pandemic, Khleng Ek flying competition was held in France and other countries and Cambodian kites won first or second place.

He said that Cambodian Khleng Ek is specially equipped with a bamboo resonator that could produce several pitches and tones when it is up in the sky.

He said that courses on how to make kites are free of charge and everyone can learn them.

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