It is the day when Ahmedabad’s sky will go vibrant and terraces with echoes of ‘Ae kaipo che’ and ‘Chal chal lapet’ on the festival of Uttarayan on Tuesday. 

From early morning, the skies are alive with the ‘aerial war’ of kite enthusiasts, coupled with the aroma of Gujarati delicacies including Undhiyu and chikki.

Kite revellers will celebrate Vasi Uttarayan on Wednesday. 

Gujarat weather

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the wind on Tuesday will flow from the northeast to the east at a speed of 15 to 20 km per hour, making it ideal for kite flying. 

Wind speed forecast for Uttarayan 

In Ahmedabad, clear skies are expected, with the minimum temperature likely to be around 13°C on Tuesday. 

For the coming week, dry weather is expected throughout the region. The minimum temperature is forecast to rise by 2-3°C over the next two days, and then fall by 2-3°C thereafter. No significant weather events are expected, and no warnings for cold waves have been issued.

On Monday night, areas such as Delhi Chakla, Kalupur Tankshal, Raipur, Paldi, Maninagar, Satellite, and SG Highway in Ahmedabad saw crowds gather for last-minute purchases of kites and reels.  

Bird helpline numbers

The festival often leads to injuries among animals and birds due to kite strings. Since 2015, the Gujarat government has undertaken the Karuna Abhiyan to rescue and treat injured birds and animals. Emergency helplines like 8320002000 (WhatsApp), 1926 (Forest Department), and 1962 (Animal Husbandry Department) have been set up to address such cases.  

Special teams at the Airport  

At Ahmedabad airport, a dedicated 10-member team has been formed to remove kites and strings from the runway during Uttarayan and Vasi Uttarayan. Loose kites and strings often obstruct aircraft during take-off and landing, occasionally getting caught in the wheels. Last year, over 15,000 kites were cleared from the airport’s runway during the festival.  

Bird fatalities

In the last three years, more than 1,000 birds have died due to injuries from kite strings during Uttarayan. Over the past eight years, 95,000+ birds have been injured, and 7,584 have lost their lives.  

The festivities continue with immense joy, but efforts to minimize harm to the environment and wildlife are equally emphasised.

Also read:

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