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, marking a colourful highlight of the bilateral visit.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram before proceeding to the riverfront venue, where the Gujarat government has organised the annual festival.
At the site, the two leaders interacted with women artisans and learnt about the traditional process of kite-making. Following the inauguration, PM Modi and Chancellor Merz took a ride in an open vehicle around the festival grounds and tried their hands at kite flying, drawing cheers from participants and visitors.
According to a Gujarat government release, the International Kite Festival-2026 features participation from 135 kite flyers from 50 countries, along with nearly 1,000 kite enthusiasts from across India. As part of the festival itinerary, international participants have already visited Rajkot, Surat, Dholavira in Kutch, and the Statue of Unity in Narmada district over the past two days, captivating local audiences.
The Ahmedabad leg of the festival will continue until January 14. Last year, the event attracted over 3.83 lakh visitors across Gujarat. This year, more than five lakh tourists are expected to visit the state to witness the festival.
Through the International Kite Festival, Gujarat Tourism aims to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage while promoting major tourist destinations such as Dholavira and the Statue of Unity.