WHY WE FLYING KITES?

The state of Gujarat (also in India) celebrates more than 200 festivals. The Kite Festival (Uttarayan) is regarded as one of the biggest festivals celebrated taking place in Ahmedabad (capital of Gujarat) which receives and can accommodate tourists from many international sending areas. Several months preceding the festival, in the homes of local families in Gujarat, there is a tradition to begin the preparation of kites for the festival. This event  marks the day when winter begins to turn into summer, days become longer according to the Indian calendar (January in the Gregorian calendar). It is the sign for agriculture that the sun is back and that season for working on the fields is approaching which is called Sankranti/ Mahasankranti. So, it is an intangible heritage keeping a tradition related to weather changes, celebrating the renewal of nature. Operating since 1989, by now 152 countries send more than 100 000 visitors every year. The program includes • A fun fair, with food stalls, games and consumer exhibitions. • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles,  are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. Operating since 1989, by now 152 countries send more than 100 000 visitors every year. The program includes • A fun fair, with food stalls, games and consumer exhibitions. • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. by now 152 countries send more than 100 000 visitors every year. The program includes • A fun fair, with food stalls, games and consumer exhibitions. • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. Now 152 countries send more than 100 000 visitors every year. The program includes • A fun fair, with food stalls, games and consumer exhibitions. • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. Now 152 countries send more than 100 000 visitors every year. The program includes • A fun fair, with food stalls, games and consumer exhibitions. • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. L • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. Lia Bassa – Noémi Aleva – Chan Inge Yan Fong – Amal Das – Mullangi Ghopala Krishna Sai Kiran games and consumer exhibitions. • There are also workshops organized on kite making to preserve the tradition. • The event has a Grand Closing Ceremony. During the night, on the second day of the festival, illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists.  Krishna Sai Kiran illuminated kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. Kites filled with lights and candles, so-called “tukals” are launched creating a spectacle in the dark sky. The organizers have already clearly identified and are on the way to improve the management of advantages, disadvantages: • It brings a local boom for culture and economy in the state by raising employment and the inflow of tourists. 

HOW LOCALS BECOME HOSTS?

• Proudly presented local arts, crafts, gastronomy promotion produces income

• It is a profitable way for keeping a local tradition alive. There are environmental problems to eliminate:

• Many birds are injured or killed, as thousands go to the terraces to fly kites, so the rules must be made more severe and their breaking seriously penalized.

• There is a lack of proper arrangements (training, organization, funding etc.) for the growing services. • No real sustainability management exists yet.

The international kite festival in Gujarat is one of the most auspicious & colorful events celebrated throughout the year. When the various sizes, colors & shapes of kites are flying around the blue sky it looks awesome & you can feel the truly festive mood these days. When the sky is filling with kites almost like a tent & with different colors, designs & sizes looks mesmerizing view you have never seen before.

This festival is very unique around the world. Not only the kites; this celebration also features delicious cuisines of Gujarat. Til Laddoo, Chukka, & Jalebi are the most popular. The kite-flying competition is also another attraction of this kite festival. There is no age bar; everyone can participate in this competition. This kite-flying competition takes you to your childhood days & everyone enjoys these days.

Due to Covid-19, this event was postponed for this year by the state government. But hopefully, in 2022 this event will be held at the same time.  If you want to witness the International Kite Festival, please visit Gujarat & experience the most colorful festival in India.