ASTANA: The evening sky of Astana was adorned with 200 colourful, butterfly-shaped kites yesterday as Malaysians and Kazakhs gethered at the Triathlon Park to welcome Malaysia's Merdeka day.
Over 200 people took part in the kite-flying activity at the park which overlooks the official residence and workplace of the Kazakhstan president, the Akorda Presidential Palace.
Many locals who came to the event were flying kites for the first time while enjoying the vocal and cultural dance performances accompanying the panoramic view.
Manas Zhumashov, 19, from Astana who attended the #MyButterflyEffect Kite-Flying event, said the evening was filled with fun activities, good food and music, and it was breathtaking to watch the Astana sky filled with hundreds of "butterflies" fluttering.
It was a double celebration for many there as Malaysia’s Merdeka eve was celebrated on Kazakh's Constitution Day, a date to commemorate the adoption of the Kazakhstan Constitution.
"I think the joint celebration was a great idea as we were able to learn more about each other’s history and culture.”
Dimash Kunayev, 31, who came with his family to enjoy the day at the park, said he was told about the event by his Malaysian collegue and decided to take his wife and children along on the public holiday.
"This is a great way to spend time with my family, socialise with people from other countries as well as learn how to fly a kite,"said the banker.
The event was organised by the Energy, Green Technology and Water ministry in collaboration with Astana's Mayor's office.
Malaysian ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abd Rahman who launched the ceremony said the event raised symbols of hope and energy for the future into the sky.
Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) who is hosting the Malaysian pavillion at the Expo2017 said the release of “butterflies” at the #MyButterflyEffect Kite Flying event was a symbol of Malaysia’s endeavor to create a Butterfly Effect, creating lage effects from small causes.
"With an intent to set in motion its very own Butterfly Effect that begins with Green Growth conversations at EXPO 2017 and ultimately result in a world powered by clean energy, Malaysia has committed to add one watt of solar generation for every one social media post on Green Growth with the hashtags #Wattif and #MyButterflyEffect based on the simple question of 'Watt If?'" he said.
Malaysia pavillion project leader Michelle Lau Sook Yee said as of yesterday, their pavillion had received 500,000 visitors with the expo coming to an end on Sept 10.