International Kite Festival: 143 flyers from 47 countries arrive in Gujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister  Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad on January 11 in Ahmedabad, which has attracted 143 participants from 47 countries around the world. In his address, the Chief Minister highlighted Gujarat’s dominant position in the national kite industry, stating that the state holds a 65% share of the country’s kite market. He pointed out that Gujarat exports kites to countries including the US, UK, and Canada.

The International Kite Festival-2025 is being held at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad from January 11 to January 14. The festivities will also take place at various other locations across the state, including the Statue of Unity (Ekta Nagar), Rajkot, and Vadodara on January 12, and Surat, Shivrajpur, and Dhordo on January 13.

State Tourism Minister Mulu Bera shared that this year’s festival features 143 international kite flyers from 47 countries, alongside 52 participants from 11 Indian states.

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During the inauguration, Patel recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, modernised the festival by integrating it with tourism initiatives. “Thus, this kite festival has given Gujarat a global identity,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister launched the festival by releasing a tricolour balloon into the sky and also noted that this year, ambassadors from 11 different countries were present in Gujarat to witness the spectacle.

Patel highlighted that PM Modi’s Vocal for Local initiative has been further bolstered by the significant tourist footfall at the event. “Food and craft stall vendors at the festival earn lakhs of rupees. Last year, over five and a half lakh people attended the festival,” he added.

The Chief Minister also emphasised Gujarat’s worldwide reputation for kite manufacturing, pointing out that Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Khambhat, and Surat have emerged as prominent hubs for kite production. “Today, Gujarat holds a 65% share of the country’s kite market, and every year, kites are exported from the state to countries such as the US, UK, and Canada,” he said.

Concluding his speech, Patel expressed hope that the “kite of Gujarat’s development” would soar to new heights, aligning with PM Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.