Of the total 70 participants, Babienko was one of the only five women contestants to come to India to take part in this festival.

Despite the barriers of language and culture, these women won the applause of other participants for their beautifully-crafted kites and flying skills.

While many male participants at the venue were accompanied by with their wives, the five women arrived on their own in Rajkot with sets of special kites.

Organised every year since 2000, the International Kite Festival has largely attracted male participants. Says Adis Wipiyati, the only woman to attend all the six kite festivals so far, "In 2003, I was the only female to participate in the festival. Now, gradually more women are taking an interest in this festival." Wipiyati, who is from Singapore, loves Edo, a kind of Japanese kites.

The youngest woman participant, Baienko, was attracted to kites because of their colours and beautiful designs . Unlike in India, Ukraine neither has a kite-flying tradition nor does it have a kite-making industry. It's been four years since the 15-year-old girl learnt to make kites. "I like kites. But unlike India, it’s not that easily available in Ukraine markets . Those who are interested make their own kites and fly them. I like the tradition in Gujarat where on January 14 everyone and anyone flies kites."

While this time, she was here with a series of small designer kites tied to a long thread (series kite), one day she hopes to participate in the festival with a bigger kite.

For 47-year-old Wipiyati, kite flying reminds her of her childhood. "I was born and brought up in Indonesia, which has a kite-flying culture. But after marriage, I settled in Singapore and lost touch with kites. But 17 years ago, I again started pursuing my hobby," she says, adding that more and more women should participate in the International Kite Festival.

At Singapore, she is a treasurer of the kite association, but says India is her second home as it is here that she gets a chance to come in contact with other kite lovers from across the globe. "We have an association, but the government doesn't organise festivals like this," she says.