by Sande Waybill

Created on: November 07, 2008

Although kite flying is popular at the Hindu Makar Sankranti festivals throughout India, with kites being flown from city rooftops and village fields, it is the International Kite Festival in Gujarat that draws the largest crowd and is the best known. All the important cities of Gujarat hold a kite festival, but it is Ahmedabad at which the international participation occurs. This International Kite Festival is held annually on January 14 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is a recent addition to celebrations for Makar Sankranti, only having been introduced in 1989.

Commencing from dawn, kites fill the sky throughout the entire day, culminating in the flight of illuminated box kites at dusk. Many of these kites are shaped in special designs, such as animals or birds. The most popular designs are birds, such as eagles. It is not only the children and the kite experts that enjoy this festival, but local people of all ages as well as many visitors who vacation especially to see the spectacular and colorful flying displays. The festival is accompanied by much music and song, and there is a special feast of traditional delicacies as well.

The kites are not your everyday toy shop variety, but made for the connoisseurs. The older paper kites have made way for fiberglass ones in the modern era. Some kites even contain a motor. Glue and ground glass are often mixed and then applied to the string of the kite. These are dried before being rolled onto firkees. This makes the kite slice through the air sharply, but can cause a cut to the hand as well if one is careless.

The event attracts spectators, designers and participants from around the world, many of whom additionally partake of tours of the surrounding area. These offer sights of local temples and monuments as well as the district's beaches. Enthusiasts from many countries participate, including the USA, Australia, Holland, Brazil, China, Chile and Italy.

The history of kite flying is on display in the Kite Museum of Ahmedabad for those wanting to learn more. Information displayed covers the entire span from Huein Tsang who flew a kite in China in 200 BC through to examples of modern flight. The Patang Bazaar is open 24/24, and is as busy by night as day. Another attraction is kite making, where giant pots of colorants and kite frames spill onto the local streets. This is very popular for curious children who often enjoy watching the kites being created.

Another popular Indian International Kite Festival is held in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Once again, the festival is a part of the Makar Sankranti festivities, and therefore is held on January 14th. Known as the Pink City of India, Jaipur is sometimes preferred by tourists wishing to see an international kite festival. The kites are more traditional here, being made of paper. They come in numerous colors, from fuchsia and ochre to indigo and gold. This is a three day celebration, with kite flying being segregated into friendly and contest flights.

URL's used to assist my research:
http://www.gujaratholiday.com/kite-festival
http://travel.mapsofindia.com/fairs-and-festivals/fe stivals-in-january/international-kite-festival
http:/ /www.indianholiday.com/rajasthan/fairs-and-festivals /international-kite-festival-jaipur.html
http://www.a ryabhatt.com/fast_fair_festival/IndexFestival.htm
htt p://www.carnetdevol.org/actualite/inde/inde.htm (in French)

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