Ahmedabad: The ‘International Kite Festival’ is held annually in Gujarat to globally promote the Uttarayan festival and invite kite flyers from across the country to participate. This year, the ‘International Kite Festival – 2025’ will be organized by the Gujarat Tourism Corporation from January 11 to January 14. The inaugural event will be held on January 11 at 9 AM at the Vallabh Sadan Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Tourism Minister Moolubhai Bera, and other dignitaries will attend the inauguration ceremony of the International Kite Festival – 2025 in Ahmedabad. Apart from Ahmedabad, the festival will be celebrated on January 12, 2025, at the Statue of Unity (Ekta Nagar), Rajkot, and Vadodara. On January 13, 2025, the festival will also take place in Surat, Shivrajpur, and Dhordo.

This year, 143 kite flyers from 47 countries, along with 52 kite flyers from 11 states in India, will participate in the festival. Additionally, 417 kite flyers from 11 cities in Gujarat will also be taking part.

The main attractions of the inaugural event include a grand cultural program, followed by Aditya Stuti Vandana recited by Rishikumars. A parade featuring international and national kite flyers will also take place. Other activities include night kite flying, an evening cultural program, kite workshops, handicraft stalls, and refreshment stalls for visitors.

The ‘International Kite Festival’ promotes various tourist destinations in the state at both national and international levels, boosting tourism. Kite flyers from across the country, along with their colorful kites in unique shapes, form a major attraction at the event.

The Kite Festival continues the tradition started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate festivals as public events with mass participation. The Uttarayan festival, which marks the northward journey of the Sun, is promoted through this Kite Festival, reflecting its ritual heritage of environmental nature worship. DeshGujarat