For most Indian children, their childhood invariably includes a cherished recollection of flying kites. The thrill and delight of witnessing a kite gracefully soar in the boundless blue sky, reaching impressive heights, leave an indelible impression. With wide-eyed wonder, they stand captivated by the sheer beauty of the spectacle. Flying a kite is not just a pastime; it’s an art that demands undivided attention and passion. For many, the act of flying a kite remains a cherished memory that evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Kite festivals in India offer a delightful opportunity to revisit those innocent moments from our childhood. These festivals, celebrated annually in our country, serve as a vibrant tribute to the captivating sport of kite flying. India takes pride in hosting the International Kite Festival, where professionals from around the globe converge to showcase their expertise. Today, let’s take a journey through the various kite festivals organized in our country, allowing us to rekindle the joy and memories associated with flying kites.
The Colorful Kite Festivals in India
During the festivals, one gets to witness the wide array of  kept for sale in the Patang Bazaar. In fact, during the festival days, the kite stores are filled with customers trying to find the perfect kite for their competitions. The distinct shapes and sizes of the kites are also quite vast and unique.
Kite fighting is an integral part of the kite festival. Kite fighting refers to one person using their kite to tear down the kite of someone else. Usually, one kite is controlled by a pair of two individuals for the ease of handling the same. Though it might seem relatively easy to some, kite fighting demands utmost attention. It includes many factors to be taken care of and hence demands the players’ full concentration. Apart from the Indian kites named Patangs, the festivals also include several other kinds of kites which are gathered from around the world, and they include the Wau-Balang Kites from Malaysia, and the Sculpture kites from Italy, among others.
International Kite Festival in Gujarat
The International Kite Festival in Gujarat is the biggest and the most widely popular kite festival that is organized in India. The festival always takes place on the day of the Makar Sankranti each year. It is usually celebrated on the 14th of January, in Ahmedabad. The festival is believed to have been inspired by the sport involving kites, which used to be played by the royalty.
Gradually, however, this sport found a place among the commoners and eventually became an immensely loved sport in the state. The very first International kite festival is said to have taken place in 1989, and was attended by people from around the world.
During the festival, the sky would appear to be vibrantly coloured due to a large number of kites of varying colors, shapes, and sizes as they float in the sky. Tourists from the countries of Japan, Malaysia also frequent the festival. On this day, people of all ages would gather at the terraces of their homes and fly kites with much joy and happiness.
The exuberant and enthralling array of the kites in the sky on this day is quite incredible and must be experienced by kite lovers. In honour of the occasion, unique dishes are also prepared and distributed among the people.
Check out the official Gujarat International Kite Festival website for recent updates.
Telangana International Kite Festival
The Telangana Kite Festival is one of the most popular kite festivals in India. It usually takes place on the parade grounds of Hyderabad, in Telangana. This kite festival came into existence relatively recently when compared with the Uttarayan, the International Kite Festival that takes place in Ahmedabad.
Usually scheduled to take place on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of January, the festival is more than just a simple activity of kite flying, as it encompasses a whole lot of other fun activities. The festival includes workshops on kite making and kite flying lessons for the visitors. Apart from this, the festival also hosts the regional food fair and an exhibition of the arts and crafts of the region.
Professionals from many parts of the world participate in the competition, thus providing the visitors with an unforgettable experience. The recent addition of the night time kite flying is a major attraction of the kite festival in Telangana and usually takes place on the first and the second night of this festival. The third and final day of the festival features several cultural activities, including music and dance, which provides a distinct charm to the festival.
What make this festival even more unique and attractive are the extraordinary and incredible ambiance that the festival offers to its visitors. The vast display of vibrantly colored kites of distinct shapes and sizes gracefully adorning the sky, along with special music played during the festival, contribute to a marvelous and remarkable experience for the visitors. Apart from taking part in the festival, the visitors also get to enjoy the distinct culture of Hyderabad first hand.
Check out the official Telangana International Kite Festival Facebook page for recent updates.
Enjoying Kite Festivals in India
The kite festivals are also accompanied by delicious and traditional dishes, which belong to the places where the festivals are organized. The most beautiful time of the day during a kite festival is undoubted during the time of sunset. At sunset, the entire sky is adorned with several kites of vibrant and diverse colors, calmly gracing the brilliant sky.
Apart from this, during the sunset, the sky illuminates with many Tukkals, which are kites carrying candles, and countless paper lanterns which float gracefully in the sky. The sight of the Tukkals and the paper lanterns is quite exuberant and enthralling. It will surely make you hold your breath in excitement.
Though it might look quite simple, certain precautions must be taken before practicing kite flying during the festival, especially kite fighting. The kite’s strings have a coating of glass, which enables the participants to cut each other’s kite with ease. Handling a kite thus requires both skill and practice. With adequate precautions, this sport is one which is unlike any other and can be enjoyed to its fullest.
Travellers Love for the Kite Festivals in India
Kite festivals in India are organized with much pomp and joy. Tourists from all across the globe flock to India every year to catch a glimpse of these Kite Festivals. Kite festivals involve many other fun activities other than flying kites, such as kite making and kite fighting. This makes the event quite popular among kite lovers.
These festivals provide a ground for people from different walks of life to come together to share their love for kites while also providing a great platform for the professionals to showcase their skills. Kite festivals are also an indelible part of our life. They truly enable visitors to relive their childhood for a second time.
It’s wonderful, the festival atmosphere with attractive games, I really want to come here with my family to play once