The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat hosted the International Kite Festival in Mumbai for the third consecutive year. The festival which was hosted at Priyadarshini Park and Sports Complex, Malabar Hills saw more than 40 international kitists. Countries like France, Russia, Ukraine, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and Estonia had participated in this festival.
Speaking exclusively with Financial Express Online, Dinesh Dasa, director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, said, ?The kite festival is an integral part of our culture and tradition. In Gujarat, it is our 26th edition of the International Kite Festival. We wanted to celebrate this festivals beyond the boundaries of Gujarat, so we organised it in Mumbai and Delhi which are the financial capital and the national capital respectively. This kind of initiatives helps in increasing the unity between the people and unites all the nations together.?
Many domestic kitists had participated in the event coming from different parts of the country. One India Kite Team, a professional kite flying team from Kerala and the winners of the Weifang International Kite Festival in China were also present to showcase their talent. The 110 feet gigantic inflatable kite, sporting the face of a Kathakali artist designed by One India Kite team will also soar high in the Mumbai skies.
Abdulla Maliyekkal, director, One India Kite team, said, ?We participate in almost every kite festival in India as well as abroad. We will flying the Kathakali kite in Mumbai as well as the International Kite Festival at Ahmedabad. We want to promote kite flying along with the culture and tradition of our region. We would also try and organise an international kite festival in Chowpatti, Mumbai.?
Antonio lino, passionate kitist, France said, ?Me and my daughter are participating for the first time in an international kite flying festival in India. We are not professionals, but passionate about flying kites. We travel across the globe to participate in different festivals, India is surely one of the most beautiful places we have come across.?
The itinerary of the international kite festival this year will cover Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Saputara, Dhordo(White Rann), Baruch, Rajkot and Mandvi, Starting with Delhi on January 7, 2014 followed by the rest of the cities. The 26th International Kite Festival will culminate in Ahmedabad, at the Sabarmati River Front on January 12- 13, 2014.
