AHMEDABAD — Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday inaugurated the
four-day International Kite Festival, which has drawn 143 participants from 47
countries.
In this image released by @CMOGuj via X on Jan. 11, 2025,
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and others during the inauguration of
the International Kite Festival 2025, in Ahmedabad. (@CMOGuj on X via PTI
Photo)
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Gujarat
has a 65 per cent share of the country's kite market, with exports to countries
like the US, UK, and Canada.
The 'International Kite Festival-2025' is being organised
at Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad from January 11 to January 14. Apart from
Ahmedabad, the festival has also been organised at 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 said this year, 143
international kite flyers from 47 countries and 52 kite flyers from 11 states
in India are participating in the festival.
Patel said as the then chief minister of Gujarat, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi introduced modern elements to the festival by
integrating it with tourism.
"Thus, this kite festival has given Gujarat a global
identity," he said.
The chief minister launched the festival by releasing a tricolour
balloon into the sky and said that this year, ambassadors from 11 countries
have travelled to Gujarat to see the kite festival.
He said PM Modi's Vocal for Local campaign has received a
boost from tourists attending the kite festival.
"People setting up food and crafts stalls during the
festival earn lakhs of rupees. More than five and a half lakh people joined the
International Kite Festival last year," Patel said.
He said Gujarat has gained recognition in the world as
the state that makes the most number of kites because Gujaratis love kites.
He said Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Khambhat and Surat have become
kite manufacturing hubs.
"Today, Gujarat has a 65 per cent share in the
country's kite market. Every year, kites are exported from Gujarat to countries
like the US, UK and Canada," Patel added.
He said the kite of Gujarat's development should soar
high to realise PM Modi's promise to make India a developed nation by 2047.
