Ahmedabad, Jan 12:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the International Kite Festival-2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and later joined German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in flying kites at the venue.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram before proceeding to the Sabarmati Riverfront, where the Gujarat government has organised the festival.
At the venue, the two leaders interacted with women artisans and were briefed on the traditional process of kite-making. Following the inauguration, they toured the festival grounds in an open vehicle and participated in kite flying, drawing enthusiastic responses from attendees.
According to a Gujarat government release, the International Kite Festival-2026 has attracted 135 kite flyers from 50 countries, along with nearly 1,000 kite enthusiasts from across India.
As part of the festival’s outreach, participating kite flyers have already showcased their skills at locations including Rajkot, Surat, Dholavira in Kutch, and the Statue of Unity in Narmada district over the past two days. The festival celebrations in Ahmedabad will continue until January 14.
The release noted that last year’s International Kite Festival witnessed footfall of over 3.83 lakh visitors across Gujarat. This year, more than five lakh tourists are expected to visit the state to experience the event.
Through the International Kite Festival, Gujarat Tourism aims to promote the state’s cultural heritage and major tourist destinations, including Dholavira and the Statue of Unity.
