About International Kite Festival |
| Event | International Kite Festival |
| Location | Ahmedabad |
| State | Gujarat |
| Category | Festival |
| Date | Jan 08, 2024 to Jan 14, 2024 |
| Main Attraction | Kite flying competition is the main attraction of the International Kite Festival. |
| Overview/History | The tradition of kite flying has been followed over generations in our society. People of all ages go out in the open and try their hand at kites. Festivals such as Basant and Makar Sankranti usually complete with a game of kite flying. Terraces and rooftops are used in places where fields are difficult to find to play this traditional sport. The festival is regarded as the change of season, marking the movement of the Sun into the northern hemisphere - a celebration to mark the end of winter. The clear blue skies and cool breeze provides a feeling of joy and delight to all who celebrate this occasion. Kites are representative of man's spirit and imaginative powers. The history of kite flying is beautifully depicted in the Kite Museum of Ahmedabad. India developed a rich tradition of kite flying because of Kings and Nawabs, for whom the sport was both entertaining and a way of showing their power. Kings used to employ trained flyers to fly kites for them. Gradually, the art started becoming famous, and today it is enjoyed in forms such as this particular Kite Flying Festival. The festival is held each year in important cities of Gujarat as well as neighboring states. The festival draws expert kite-makers and flyers not only from cities of India but also from around the world. |
| Celebration | Expert kite-makers and flyers are in much demand during the festival time, and are called upon not only from major cities of India but also from around the world. The venue for the International Kite Festival is Ahmedabad, Gujarat's premier city. This festival coincides with Makar Sankranti, and the people of Gujarat celebrate this festival to indicate the end of winter. Patang Bazaar is one of the major attractions of this festival. During the festival the bazaar remains open for 24 hours a day and provides numerous kites and related things for people to choose from. It is fun to watch the entire city getting excited over kites in the middle of the night and crowd around the streets to buy their stocks. Illuminated box kites or Tukkals are also tied in a series on a line and are launched into the sky, adding a colourful flavour to it. The day then comes to an end with the traditional food festival of Gujarat. It offers sweets like the Undhiyu (a delicacy of vegetables), Jalebi (sweets), Til Ladoo (sweets made of sesame seeds) and Chikki (sweet made from groundnuts and jaggery) for the visitors from different parts of the world. The International Kite Festival 2014, organized by the Tourism Department of Gujarat, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the Sabarmati River Front on Ashram Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. School children took part in the festival and gave performances, highlighting the varied cultures and traditions of India. People from different parts of the country as well as from overseas participated in the celebrations. |
