‘One sky, many nations’, Kite flyers from London to Mexico fill up Ahmedabad’s skies

Every January, the skies over Ahmedabad turn into a living canvas of colour as kite flyers from across the world gather for the city’s iconic kite-flying festival. 

Organised by Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the kite festival held during Makar Sankranti is one of the city’s biggest cultural highlights. The 2026 edition gained special attention as it was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Kite flyers from abroad shared their experiences with Gujarat Samachar Digital English, reflecting the diversity, joy and global connect the festival represents.

Sharing her experience, Sabrina Marshall from London said this was her third time at the festival, but the experience felt entirely different this year. She said witnessing Prime Minister Modi in person made the occasion special, and added that the wind conditions were much stronger than during her previous visits.

“I am very happy that we all got to fly kites for such a long time this year, and the sky was completely full,” she said.

Speaking about the spirit of the festival, Sabrina noted that kites have the power to unite people. “It’s very important that we come together from different backgrounds, cultures and religions. We all share one sky, one world and one love, and we should all stay connected,” she added.

Concluding with a smile, she shared a bit of Gujarati she had learned, “Kai po che… but not my kite.”

Emma from Denmark, attending the festival for the third time, said it still felt like a first-time experience. “Every year feels different, especially this year because I got to see PM Modi. It was phenomenal to witness him as he is a global icon,” she said.

Emma said that there were more kite flyers and more participating countries this year compared to earlier editions. “In the morning the wind was good and we flew many kites, but because there were so many flyers, the kites often intertwined and collided. It was difficult to steer at times, but the wind was great,” she said. She added that her team brought both large and small kites to suit changing wind conditions.

Sharing her feedback, Emma said, “I honestly can’t think of anything bad, except a small thing, “the food could be better for us. We were served very spicy food, and we are used to mild flavours. Other than that, everything was great.”

Brian from Ireland, visiting the festival for the second time, said Monday’s strong winds allowed him to fly several kites. “Now that the wind has dropped, fewer kites are in the air,” he noted. Comparing it with home, Brian said, “We’re used to very strong winds in Ireland.” When asked if Ireland has a similar festival, he replied, “No, and I don’t see why. We have incredible beaches and plenty of wind. It would be perfect for a kite festival.”

For David Guevara from Mexico, this was his first visit to the Ahmedabad kite festival. Calling the experience ‘magical’, Guevara said, “The people are magical and the sense of reunion is incredible.” Speaking in Spanish about his kites, he said he brought designs inspired by the Mexican flag, manta rays and axolotls.

Asked about kite festivals back home, David said Mexico hosts the Volarte Festival in February, with participation from countries such as Colombia, Chile, Argentina and China. Comparing the two, he said, “No, Gujarat has no comparison. Gujarat is international, Gujarat is big, Gujarat is at the top.”

Konstantin Ratsos from Greece, attending the festival for the fourth time, said he was happy to return and reconnect with friends he had made over the years. He explained that Greece celebrates ‘Clean Monday’, an official holiday when people of all ages fly kites from rooftops and open spaces as part of tradition.

“Every time I come here, it’s unique. Every year is different,” Konstantin said. This year, he and his team flew four manoeuvrable freestyle kites. “There are so many opportunities here to fly different combinations and perform in the sky,” he added.

The festival once again proved that Ahmedabad’s kite-flying tradition is not just a celebration, but a global melting pot.