Overview
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz opened Ahmedabad’s International Kite Festival on January 12, featuring 135 international flyers from 50 countries, 65 from 13 Indian states and 871 from across Gujarat.
- Hyderabad’s International Kite & Sweet Festival runs January 13–15 at Secunderabad Parade Ground, inaugurated by Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao with 40 professional flyers from 19 countries, 55 national participants, 60 sweet stalls and 100 handloom and handicraft stalls.
- Hyderabad’s follow-on events are scheduled: hot-air balloons January 16–18 at Parade Ground from 4–9 p.m. with morning ascents outside the city, and a drone festival January 16–17 at Gachibowli Stadium featuring drone soccer, races and RC plane airshows.
- The IMD expects dry weather and winds around 4–8 km/h in Hyderabad this week, conditions officials say are suitable for kite flying and balloon operations.
- Uttarayan celebrations expanded across cities on January 14, with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launching Gandhinagar’s festival, large displays in Vadodara, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma inaugurating Jaipur’s kite events near Jal Mahal.