Artistic pair: Nurul Nazratul-nadia and her husband, Muhamad Syukri making a kite together during the pre-launch of the 25th Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: What started out as mere conversations between Nurul Nazratulnadia Mohd Sejali and her husband nine years ago ended up sparking her passion for the art of kite-making.
The 27-year-old said that she had had no experience in making kites nor was she interested in learning about it before she met her husband Muhamad Syukri Sater.
“When I first got to know my husband, I always asked him about kite-making as I knew he was deeply passionate about it.
“The more I got to know, the more I was fascinated by the craft. I offered to help out in making them, despite not having any skills, as he was overwhelmed by with orders at one time.
“It was a bit challenging at first but eventually, I got used to it and even fell in love with it.
“Since then, we have been making kites together regularly to feed our interest as well as to earn some side income,” she told The Star in an interview here.
Nurul Nazratulnadia said that it takes between one and five days to make a single kite, depending on the size, shape and materials used.
“It is an intricate process but also therapeutic. It is very important to be patient and remain calm while making them.
“For us, being able to make kites together is a bonus as not many couples share the same hobby. It allows us to spend more time together doing something that we both enjoy,” she said.
She added that their interest in making kites was a life-saver during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as it allowed them to continue earning a living.
“My husband is a farmer while I am a housewife. When the first movement control order was announced, we were caught off-guard and did not know how we were going to survive.
“We could no longer tend to our farm, which was the sole source of income.
“Thankfully, we were still receiving orders from our neighbours for kites and were able to make them from home. It was a saving grace,” she said.
She added that her 31-year-old husband is the son of the late Sater Kasdi, an expert in crafting all kinds of traditional kites.
“He learned the craft from his father when he was eight years old and has been continuing the legacy with his brother, Hishammuddin Sater.
“We hope that we can also pass down the legacy to our children once we have any. For now, my husband is also encouraging his nephew and nieces to pick up the skill,” she said.
Nurul Nazratulnadia said she and her husband will also be taking part in the 25th Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival this year, which will take place from Feb 22-26 at Bukit Layang-Layang.
