International kite festival makes sky of Gujarat more colourful and eventful

Ahmedabad, January 8: Gujarat has turned more eventful and colourful as a seven-day international kite festival began on Sunday at Sabarmati River Front in Ahmedabad. Notably, the international kite festival was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the presence of Governor O.P. Kohli. The state government-sponsored festival will culminate on January 14, which is celebrated as Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti).

 

Nearly 100 kite enthusiasts from 18 Indian states and hundreds of them from Ahmedabad also displayed their kite flying skills on the occasion. Many kite enthusiasts from across the world are also participating in the week-long festival that is being celebrated across cities in Gujarat. As many as 150 delegates from 44 countries, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, New Zealand, China, Indonesia and Malaysia, have also arrived in Ahmedabad to participate in the event.

The main attraction of this year’s kite festival is Chinese dragon kites and hundreds of kites tied to a single string. Kite workshop, adventure games for kids, craft stalls to display the local art and food stalls with local dishes etc. are also being subject to major attractions.

On this occasion, CM Rupani said, “People from different countries have come here to fly kites. People from different states are also here. For around eight days, kite festivals will be celebrated in different cities in the state.” He said the festival will give a boost to the kite industry which employs around 3 lakh people.

After inaugurating the mega event, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in a tweet said, “kites symbolises fun, social integration, freedom - a way to ride nature’s currents, friendship & traditions. Gujarat- welcomes Kite lovers from across the globe to the #InternationalKiteFestival2018 . Let's fly high...in imaginations, adventures, spirit and the life.”

Meanwhile, the state Congress, however, criticised the government over spending money in organizing the kite festival. Importantly, the International Kite Festival India 2018 is an event to display amazing collections of simple and fancy kites in all shapes and sizes. Groups of people participate in high kite flying if size is too big. The sky is filled with bright colors of kites on banks of Sabarmati (Gandhi to Nehru Bridge). International visitors can also learn the Gujarati style of kite flying with screams all over the place.