International Kite Festival of Ahmedabad - post covid 2023
The 32nd edition of the Ahmedabad International Kite Festival, which took place this year, was more comprehensive with new personnel handling a few sectors.
Kiters who had been chosen after a selection of nations to include as many as possible also observed new players entering the market. Those include Bahrain and the GCC. What was un-impressive was how they displayed their kites and gave viewers a sense of how to fly or construct a kite. However, it is sufficient for Gujarat Tourism to demonstrate that the majority of participating nations! I would refer to the organisers of the world's most charitable kite festival as such, and I have no doubt that other kite fliers will agree.
Regardless of whether they are homemade or purchased, anyone can register to fly two kites of their choosing in the event.
Even with one kite, kiters swarm in! How unexpected is that! And kiters who bring a bag full of kites—many of whom are passionate, creative kite builders—are the ones from whom one can gain respect and learn the intricacies of their technique for making kites. They also don't seem to limit their interest in expanding their knowledge to just other people. Those specialists who are willing to offer their knowledge are few and far between! Both forms of interest are growing, therefore we have reason to think that kiting will as well.
Due to the cost of buying kites from manufacturers and flying them, kiting is also an expensive sport. Such kiters have a lot of money! Buy it and take off. They adore it. But imparting knowledge to others will be absent. Bla bla bla is what will share! If they are genuine kite manufacturers, they can share when this is an intriguing topic! It helps others, a novice to learn and enter. Putting an expensuve kite purchase dampen the art. It should induce into making. But to the fact, I must add that there aren't many people who still make original, enormous kites in our nation nowadays. People who are aware of their culture and have a keen eye for history create kites to preserve it. This divergence has always existed. And this differentiation really does confer mastery. I've found such Kitists in a submission that I have.
Gujarat's premier event is the IKF, Ahmadabad. There is no festival like this one anywhere else in the world. People always come to this celebration with great vigour and passion. I've known certain folks for the past 17 years thanks to my sporadic IKF participation and the friends I make. It has induced bonding. And while the fact that taking long, exhausting bus trips to other locations with friends from other countries can be enjoyable and exhilarating, this is another reason why kiters want to return time and time again, however, contrary to a bus travel explains tiresome and so on. π
Indoor Kiting is another fun.
As I mentioned, this year, even those who joined for the first time may have discovered the fullest, they must make an effort not to miss this experience the following year!
Allegations made through Facebook should be pardoned as the kiter (who does not claim to be named here but is now recognised by his post) was unable to learn anything from the field other than demonstrating his pressures!
A few kiters who were visiting Gujarat for the first time brought pleasant recollections of the state with them. If invited, they will return without a doubt!
In particular, many kiters retreat outside of their nation to avoid the winter. However, they love to spend their vacations in India flying kites. After Gujarat, kitists visit other festivals as well, which in another way entails a trip through India, and thus aids them in staying away from their frigid homeland. Their participation in the events is cited as a benefit to the festival organisers in the aftermath. Everyone is happy! And the festival has a really successful outcome.
IKF Ahmedabad also set a record this year for the Guinness Book of Records.
The goal was established as "50 Nationalities flying kites simultaneously." The aim is awesome at a place with 68 invited/participating countries/nationalities. Yeah! The Sabarmati River is always plagued by wind!
In 2018, if I'm not mistaken, we headed out with full kites and the day gave a nice feel for the job done.
We were one of the few people on the field trying to raise our kites during the announcement that said, "Fly your kites for 30 odd minutes" (I'm not sure if it was seconds). The field of the IKF Ahmadabad is profoundly sprawling not less than 100 feet wide by 700 feet long prepared on a green mat, (again iconic) correct me if I'm wrong. All the while, assuming 50 kites are trying to keep aloft their kites with less wind, including me to be able to fly with my Parafoil sled ( a light wind kite-one which I've made myself – I make my own kites) hoping it could be part of a record and yes!
From a distance, we could make out a few kiters proudly posing for photos while holding up a copy of Guinness certificate. Poor us—we just stood there and observed it. Such images began to appear in FB as "We done" tags earlier. Is that too easy to set a record? Lolπ So, congratulations to TCGL. Set a lot more records. We're here for you. Please send us a copy of the certificate you received for the accomplishment you made with us. So, until we triumphantly receive our portion of certificate, the wall of our house will remain empty. Hoping!!!
With the exception of two ( 1+1) one day spent travelling with kite to Vadnagar (the birthplace of Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, an ancient heritage city and Dorella, a new up-coming city), I have only spent 10 days in Ahmadabad this year ( which will have the airport, shortly, as per sources). Nearly 90 km separated the two locations we visited from Ahmedabad. This is a bus tour! In both locations, we could fly our kites. And content! Yes, what Ahmedabad could not offer!
And in general, I dont travel from Ahmedabad as I 've visited almost all the districts of Gujarat in several occassions.
When friends are present, staying in Ahmedabad is enjoyable.
One day we've gathered around at Mughal Chowk, the new food joint which Uttej started, a 45 minutes drive from the Silver Cloud hotel we stayed in Ahmedabad. The food they served was awsum and delicious, brought in taste buds scintilate. Some ☕️f the pics which shows here taken ftom there. Thanks to Gadiz ( Singapore) for her treat.
Going to Kalupur, one of the most famous and crowded kite markets, where you can find colourful stacked kites for sale and display, will make you feel ecstatic and feverish on the eve of Makara Sankranti on the 13th of January. And on 14th Jan, when you enter the roof tops of shoulder-to-shoulder buildings where lakhs of people are flying and battling with kites while reverberating "Kaipoche" at winning over other kiters, the Heh!πͺπΊπΌ
Instead of flying our kites there on this particular day, we observe and visit our specially invited locations instead! I joined our friend Uttej and his daughter Prisha, as well as Bob (UK), Lucca (Italy), Trent (Australia), and Sandesh (India), as well as the host, who was also a friend of Uttej, this time when we visited the walled city of Ahmedabad. A couple who was surprised when they learned I was from Kerala approached me as I introduced myself to the host! The lady introduced her spouse, Dr Manish Gabdhi, a Gastro-surgeon working at Lakeshore in Kochi, in the past. We quickly realised that we had a few pals in common! Discussion went on. There were kites flying! With a half glass of vodka, a group of people down here are celebrating the kite flying passion! The customary Chikkies added the flavour of the day.
Am giving a message of gratitude to Ajith Kumar Sharma, our team's host at TCGL. All of it was brought about by his instructions.
Longtime friend and good human Dipen Dodiya is enthusiastic. Off the field, he spent time with us and a kite partner. Men, have fun.☕️
Few new friendships also born this time.
Relationship building is essential. It should go without saying! Nearby were Dears! Another occasion for celebration was time spent with friends. Shopping is getting more and more expensive. For several reasons, the period from 7 to 15 January 2023 came very close. Kiting is a space! Whereas I do not believe that a pollution of uninvited discussions should be given priority. It's a blatant case of kindness. Nothing else matters! Each person has created a niche for themselves.
From 1-inch kites to enormous kites, from zero wind to aerobic kites, from single lines to train kites, from spirits to revolution or quad lines, and from bol to rings ( not kites but a show in the field) Conversation to discussions, friendliness to bonding, get-together to partying, gifting to hugs, tuk-tuk to taxis, snacks to buffet, learning to fly, idle to live, melting-pot to freezing, joking to laughing, leg-pulling to making fun, political to apolitical of thoughts, greeting to ignorance, love to care, share to care, volunteering to be a part, forgiveness to carry along, what not I've missed, I profusely say everything is in, over a kite festival you will watch.
Be sincere! Offer assistance! Show courtesy!
As you go, your eyes begin to water. Hum! Such is the way of life. Allow it to go off and forgive.!!
As I had severe probs in my phone, I could'nt take pictures this time. And the pics what you see here are from my friends. More to recieve and updateπ
Until then, bye!
Good luck kiting. The representatives of humanity, Kiting, live long and prosper. Friendship is eternal.❤❤❤
