The skies over Ahmedabad came alive with history in the making as PM Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz participated in the International Kite Festival at Sabarmati Riverfront. Their joint kite-flying act underscored bonds of friendship and shared cultural values.
Makar Sankranti in Gujarat is synonymous with kite battles and festivities, a tradition passed down generations. Entire communities unite under open skies, filling the air with laughter and competition. This local fervor gained global stature through Modi’s prescient leadership during his Chief Minister days.
Modi saw beyond tradition, viewing the festival as a vehicle to project Gujarat’s – and India’s – cultural richness internationally. His initiatives attracted global talent, making cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat epicenters for kite aficionados worldwide. Here, kites soared as emissaries of joy, dissolving boundaries.
PM Modi captured the essence on social media, sharing snapshots of the colorful spectacle. He rejoiced in introducing Chancellor Merz to the tradition, calling it a moment of pure delight. ‘Kites during Makar Sankranti paint the heavens with festivity and hope,’ he noted, crediting the event’s evolution into an international draw that unites diverse participants.
Today, the Gujarat International Kite Festival exemplifies cultural diplomacy at its finest. It transforms a regional rite into a universal celebration, carrying India’s ethos of unity and positivity to every corner of the world.