The sky is covered in blue. Flying are dolphins to dragons. This is no joke, this is reality. Hundreds of kites are soaring across the sky. Gujarat's International Kite Festival has begun. Many kite enthusiasts from home and abroad have gathered at the festival.
Various districts of India have the tradition of flying kites on Makar Sankranti. The practice of kite flying in India is not new. It is said that in ancient times, many kings and emperors used to compete in kite flying. It is believed that once Lord Ramchandra flew a kite on Makar Sankranti. Ram's kite reached heaven. Since then, the tradition of flying kites on Makar Sankranti began.
The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on this Makar Sankranti. It is also known as the Uttarayan Festival. Many Bollywood celebrities also come here to see the kite festival. This year, the kite festival in Ahmedabad has started from January 10. It will continue till Makar Sankranti, that is, January 14.
Every year, the festival is organized on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad. In 1989, the International Kite Festival was first held in Ahmedabad on the initiative of the Gujarat government. Since then, the Uttarayan Festival has been celebrated every year on Makar Sankranti.
Why is this colorful festival celebrated?
This year, Ahmedabad's Uttarayan Festival is about to enter its 37th year. The festival has been organised by Gujarat's tourism department.
Gujarat's International Kite Flying Festival is a cultural confluence. At the same time, this unique festival brings together many people from the country and abroad. The festival attracts not only local residents of Ahmedabad, but also many people from countries like China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy and the United States.
Kite artists from various countries come here. A total of 135 international kite enthusiasts from 50 countries have come to this year's festival with the most unique and large-sized kites. Penguin and chimpanzee kites have also flown in the sky. There are more than 500 small kites on a single string. When it flies, it will seem as if your kite has reached heaven. Large-sized kites with faces of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman, Spider-Man, and various cartoon characters were also seen flying here.
Kite flying competitions are also held on rooftops on this day. The government has also declared a holiday around the festival. Those who make and fly the most beautiful kites will be given special prizes. Various folk culture and dance programs have been organized around the festival.
This year on January 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were seen participating in Gujarat's Uttarayan Festival. Both state leaders were seen flying kites with Hanuman's picture drawn on them. On his first visit to India, the way German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has embraced Indian culture makes political circles optimistic that bilateral relations between the two countries will improve further.
