The festival of ‘Uttarayan’ is an integrated part of Gujarat’s culture and yet another flavour of vibrant and colorful Gujarat Uttarayan, which is known globally as a ‘Kite Festival’ is being celebrated with an estimated 535 kite fliers participating in Ahmedabad.
The includes 96 from 18 different states, 149 kite fliers from 44 countries and around 290 from different parts of state. In addition to this, the celebrations of the Kite Festival will not be just limited to Ahmedabad but to various other cities such as Palanpur, Dakor, Jamnagar, Surat, Dwarka, Jetpur, Saputara, Rajkot, Vadodara, Pavagadh, Valsad, Gandhidham, and many other.
The festival marks the days in the Hindu calendar when the winter begins turning to summer, known as “Makar Sankranti or ‘Uttarayan’.
On what is usually a bright warm sunny day with brisk breezes to lift the kites aloft, across the state almost all normal activity is shut down and everyone takes to the rooftops and roadways to fly kites and compete with their neighbors.
The State of Gujarat becomes manufacturing hub months before the festival gains the fever and gives boost to the overall socio-economic statuses. Each year, this grand festival organized by the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited and with each year passing, it’s getting bigger and better.
This year, the International Kite Festival is being celebrated celebrated from the January 7 to 14 at NID Ground, Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad.
Jenu Devan, IAS, Commissioner of Tourism & Managing Director, Gujarat Tourism, speaking at the inaugural ceremony said, “international Kite Festival is one of the most important and colourful festivals in Gujarat. Each year, thousands of kitists vist the celebration and carry back wonderful memories with them.
The locals also benefit from such festivals because they receive great livelihood opportunities. This year’s celebrations are special because our partner state Chhattisgarh under the EBs8 initiative will also be contributing, Gujarat’s spirit and fervour during this lovely festival will definitely impress each and every visitor.
Special attraction for this year is theme pavilion on Destinations of Gujarat”, Kite Making workshops, schematic 3 stalls, Adventure craft Bazaar and Food Stalls. In order to build confidence among children, 1500 students of Municipal Corporation school will perform surya Namaskar on the inauguration day and 200 students of Bhagwat vidhyapith are going to perform a small dance namely Aaditya Stuti”.
Making sure of fun-filled celebration of festival of kites, delegates and enthusiastic from across the globe participates and present their art and power of creativity with designer kites.
Localities celebrate this festival in a different way as they prepares themselves days before the Big day and prepares foods like laddu, undhiyu or surti jamun for eating over the course of the day and ensures fun remains never ending.