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Dietician Sheela Seharawat

The vibrant state of Gujarat, which is a cauldron of various cultures, traditions and colours,
people of the state soak themselves in the enthusiasm of the Uttarayan, the day of the
International Kite Festival. People of all age groups find themselves awake and soaring their
kites high in the sky since early morning on this day.
The International Kite Festival is held in Ahmedabad every year to coincide with the festival
of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. Uttarayan is one of the most important festival for us
Indians, as this day marks the change of the winter season to summer and signifies harvest
season for farmers. This festival is much eagerly awaited and is celebrated with enthusiasm
and fervour by the Gujarati community. Many visitors from across the world visit Gujarat
during this time to witness and actively participate in this eccentric and kaleidoscopic
festivities.

The History of Kite Flying and International Kite Festival
As per history, it is believed that India is the origin of kite flying, once a legacy of the kings
and royalties, later followed the Nawabs, who found the sport entertaining and show their
power and position. Later, which was once a sport for the kings, became a popular
phenomenon among the masses. It has been a regional event in Gujarat for quite a long time,
however, in 1989, the first International Kite Festival was celebrated, and people from all
across the world gathered to showcase their innovations with kites.
Since Gujarat, has served as a stopover and a center of trade activities from the Persian
regions, it serves a true place of cultural blend of the Hindu and Muslim cultures. Though
believed that the Persians introduced the idea of flying kites to celebrate Uttarayan, it has
been celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of Gujarat.

The celebrations at the International Kite Festival
On this day, people wake up early before sunrise and arrangements starts for the making of
delectable Gujarati delicacies as an integrate part of the festivity celebrations. Children and
male members of the family gather in groups on the roof tops to reserve their places to fly
kite throughout the day. Numerous and indigenously different types of kites are flown with
kite experts arrive from different parts of the world and especially in Sardar Patel Stadium in
Ahmedabad the sky is covered with different kind of kites from Box kites to high speed sport
kites to windsocs and hand painted artistic kites. One of the highlight of the celebration which
is a delight for visitors, is the kite of master kite maker Rahim Bhai of Ahmedabad, whose
500 kites attached on a single string still remains a top attraction of the festival celebrations.