Dragons Can Fly, So Can Lions: Check Out Gujarat’s Kite Festival

A lion that can fly!

(Photo: PTI)

Dragons, frogs, lizards – and even cubs! The whole animal kingdom seems to have descended the skies at the Sabarmati front in Ahmedabad.

On Sunday, 7 January, hundreds of kite enthusiasts from across the country and abroad made their way to the city in Gujarat to flaunt not only their kite-flying skills, but also their creativity in finding (and sometimes making) the most curious and colourful kites.

The flying dragon!(Photo: AP)

The ongoing International Kite Festival was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. Governor OP Kohli was present too.

Hello Simba!(Photo: AP)

The state government-sponsored festival will culminate on 14 January – or the day the country celebrates Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti).

Spot the mermaid.(Photo: AP)

Around 150 delegates from 44 countries, including the UK, South Korea, New Zealand, China, Indonesia and Malaysia, are participating in the event. Nearly 100 kite enthusiasts from 18 Indian states – and hundreds of them from Ahmedabad – displayed their kite-flying skills on the occasion.

Spike is the latest fad.(Photo: AP)

Chinese dragon kites and hundreds of kites tied to a single string hogged the limelight.

People from different countries have come here to fly kites. People from different states are also here. For around eight days, kite festivals will be celebrated in different cities across the state.

Vijay Rupani

Another spike!(Photo: AP)

Rupani said the festival will give boost to the kite industry which employs around 3 lakh people.

A creepy-crawly or not-so-creepy-crawly?(Photo: AP)

The state Congress, however, criticised the government over spending money in organising the kite festival. The Opposition party said the BJP government should instead provide relief to thousands of families associated with the kite industry by removing the 5 percent GST imposed on the sector.

A fascinating shape for a kite!(Photo: AP)

Here comes the king of the jungle!(Photo: PTI)

They have kites for all: Modi, Trump and Yogi.(Photo: PTI)

The Gujarat Chief Minister is an enthusiast too.(Photo: PTI)

There comes another spike-y kite!(Photo: PTI)

How about kites in the shape of frogs?(Photo: AP)