International Kite Festival 2024 Gujarat: History, Date, Significance, Full Schedule

Celebrated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the International Kite Festival is primarily the celebration of Makar Sankranti which connotes a lot of new beginnings and good omen. To name a few, this festival denotes the beginning of Hindu New Year, the Sun’s journey to North, the Sun’s transition into Makar Rashi (Capricorn sunshine), the summer season and a new harvest season.

Uttarayan is another popular name of Makar Sankranti by which it’s known in many regions of India, especially in Gujarat. The festival is celebrated in many unique and creative ways across the country. Some indulge in lighting a bonfire, some in feasting while some in kite flying like it is celebrated in Gujarat.

A Look at International Kite Festival's Interesting Facts 

• The first kite festival was celebrated in 1989 in Ahmedabad.
• The first event was participated by kite makers and passionate kite flyers with their unusual kites from Indonesia, Japan, the USA, and Malaysia.
• Patang Bazaar is a popular kite market that remains open 24 hours a week before the festival in Ahmedabad.
• The festivals take place at the Sabarmati Riverfront which has the capacity to accommodate 500,000 people.
• The kite museum nearby the Sabarmati West Riverfront is a major tourist attraction as it features a unique collection of kites in unique shapes and sizes.
• Owing to this grand International Kite Festival, Ahmedabad is also known as the Kite Capital of Gujarat.
• Locals claim that participants from 45 countries take part in the festival every year.
• Though the epicenter of the festival is Ahmedabad yet it is also celebrated in other cities of Gujarat like Surat, Vadodra, Rajkot, Porbandar, and Saputara.
• International Kite Festival Jaipur and Kite Flying Festival Delhi are two similar versions of this grand affair of Gujarat. 

Click Here to Book Gujarat Tour Packages

International Kite Festival 2024 Dates, and Timings 

This year the festival will commence on January 7 and will conclude on January 14. The venue for the festival is the Sabarmati Riverfront where one must reach at 10 am to witness different colours, hues of competitions, the shades of excitement and the tint of happiness in the sky!

Here are the major highlights of the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad:

Kite Flying Competitions 

Various kite flying competitions are carried out during the festival in which the enthusiasm and excitement reach its apogee. The festival is participated by professional kite flyers from across the country and globe who display their skills with unique kites.

Patang Bazaar 

The kite market is one of the most happening and most crowded places during the kite festival in Ahmedabad. One can imagine the kind of footfall it witnesses by the fact that the vendors start keeping their shops open 24x7 in order to sell as many kites as required to cover the entire sky! 

The price range of these kites is between Rs. 5 and 5,000 and even above! These shop owners stock their shops with kites in different shapes sizes and a range of different types of Manjas (kite flying string) and other related accessories.

Sabarmati West Riverfront  

This site is fundamentally the banks of the Sabarmati River. The overall ambiance of this place is immensely serene and calm to look at and during the festival, one feels like being covered by the colorful rainbow of kites flying high in the sky.

Gujarati Cuisines  

During this festival people across the state prepare some traditional dishes such as Undhyu, Surati Jamun, and Ladoo to mark the celebrations. Besides these dishes, one may also relish other authentic Gujarati dishes such as Khandvi, Aam Shrikhand, Gujarati Kadhi, Dhokla, Thepla, Dal Dhokli, and Patra.

Do’s and Don’ts of International Kite Festival Gujarat

• Stay hydrated at all times to stay in the competition till the end!
• Take turns while flying the kite as standing for hours without break might take a toll on your body.
• Wear gloves to protect your hands as the kite flying string (manja) is coated with glass and glue that can lacerate your hand.
• Maintain a good distance with other participants as people often end up running on other’s feet or bump into others in order to save one’s kite.
• Use good quality Manja that offers a good grip and also does not harm the hands.
• Wear caps and apply sunscreen to protect your skin and yourself from dehydration.

Now that you know everything about it, doesn’t this grand and one of the most vibrant festivals of Gujarat excites you? If yes, then board the first train or flight to Ahmedabad and show your kite flying skills! You may also visit the place to witness the surreal beauty of the Sabarmati River or to just gaze at the colorful sky.