Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday inaugurated the Gandhinagar Kite Festival, marking the commencement of ‘Patang Utsav 2026’ in the city.
The Chief Minister extended greetings and warm wishes to the people on the occasion of Uttarayan, an auspicious period in the Hindu calendar symbolising the onset of longer days.
On the joyous and festive occasion of Uttarayan 2026, the Chief Minister also joined citizens in kite-flying and other celebrations.
He tried his hand at kite-flying and distributed laddoos and chikki among local residents.
Extending his Uttarayan greetings, CM Bhupendra Patel said that as people fly kites high in the sky during the festival, it should also become an occasion of enthusiasm that helps everyone reach new heights of happiness, peace, prosperity and progress in their lives.
The Chief Minister also took to social media platform X to share pictures of the Uttarayan celebrations organised by the Sahay Foundation at Central Vista in Gandhinagar.
CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the kite festival celebrations by releasing balloons into the sky. The event saw the participation of government officials, including the Gandhinagar Mayor and the District Collector, BJP office-bearers, international kite flyers, and a large number of local residents.
Earlier, the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had urged residents, through a social media post, to join the festive celebrations with joy and enthusiasm.
The International Kite Festival remains a major attraction in Gujarat, drawing hundreds of trained and professional kite flyers from India and abroad, who converge in Ahmedabad to fly giant and varied kites.
During this period, the skies are filled with colourful kites of various shapes and sizes, creating a vibrant spectacle at the Sabarmati riverfront. Over the years, the festival has also spread to other cities, including Surat, Rajkot and Dholavira, where kite flyers mesmerise spectators by filling the skies with brilliantly coloured jumbo kites.
(IANS)
