New Delhi: Uttarayan in Gujarat is one of the most significant festivals. It marks the movement towards the north of the Sun from the Southern hemisphere,
believed to be the harvesting season, with longer days and warm weather. It is a two-day carnival in Gujarat with kites, food, music and community spirit coming together to celebrate as one. The skies turn colourful with millions of kites across the various regions of the state.
Today, Ahmedabad hosts the globally acclaimed International Kite Festival, attracting participants from 40+ countries. The sky filled with colourful kites symbolises freedom, joy, and the spirit of competition, making Uttarayan an unmatched cultural experience in Gujarat. Along with Ahmedabad, other regions in Gujarat this year participated and hosted the grand kite festival marking the harvest festival.
International Kite Festival 2026
On a typical sunny and breezy Uttarayan morning, life comes to a pause in Gujarat, where people head to rooftops and open streets to fly kites and challenge one another in a competition. Kites of every size and shape fill the sky, and the main thrill lies in cutting an opponent’s kite string. For this, people rely on expert kite-makers who craft sturdy kites with flexible bamboo frames and perfectly stretched paper.
In Ahmedabad, kite-making begins early in November, especially in the iconic Patang Bazaar in the old city. This market becomes the heart of Uttarayan preparations and stays open 24/7 during the coming weeks for people to buy stuff.
Ahmedabad Kite Festival dates
Ahmedabad is all set to come alive with spectacular Uttarayan festivities, with the Sabarmati Riverfront serving as the grand venue for millions of colourful kites from January 12th-14th. This year, the celebrations have now been extended till January 17th, with Gujarat Tourism planning it for more days for people to keep the festive spirit alive and enjoy the view of colourful skies.
Regardless of your background or beliefs, if you’re in Gujarat in January, you’ll almost certainly end up joining everyone in flying kites. People from across India travel to the state for the festivities, many Gujaratis living elsewhere return home during this time, and visitors from countries like Japan, Italy, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, France, China, and many others also come to witness the vibrant celebration.
