How it all began: On Day One, Kankaria Carnival sees 1.31 lakh footfall

With the aim of providing quality entertainment to citizens, a platform for local artists, and promoting tourism in the city, the Kankaria Carnival is said to be not just a major entertainment festival for Ahmedabad but an important centre for the city’s cultural identity, collective enjoyment, and tourism development.

The evening of each day of the carnival will conclude with performances by renowned artists including Kirtidan Gadhvi, Parth Oza, Geeta Rabari, Brijdan Gadhvi, Ishani Dave, Rehan Khan, Priyanka Basu, and Orchestra.

Gautam, who is now heading the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (SRFDCL) as its Chairman, told The Indian Express, “I still remember that during the first Carnival, people dressed up in different cultural attires and reached the Carnival representing each of the city’s zones. It was during the first Carnival that Atal Express was also launched at Kankaria Lakefront as the PM wanted to pay his respects to (late prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”

AMC officials who were associated with the revitalisation and beautification of the Kankaria Lakefront recalled that only a countable number of international parks would have that kind of toy train. “The train was sourced from the United Kingdom. Looking at the popularity, it was followed by a second toy train in 2012-13,” a former AMC official said.

Some also recalled how there would be smaller events at the Lakefront and the adjoining Football Ground, which was earlier a part of Kankaria Lakefront, now and then, including the ‘millennium festival’ held in 1997 during Keshubhai Patel’s tenure to celebrate 50 years of independence. “It used to have different stages and was chaotic. Only after 2008 did it become a well-planned and organised event. The first Carnival had five stages, which was reduced to three soon after and still continues,” the official said.

For safety and security reasons, as lakhs of people are expected, more than 110 CCTV cameras have been installed inside and outside the Kankaria premises for the safety of all people, including small children and women. With the help of CCTV cameras, the police will keep a close eye on every corner of Kankaria. Apart from this, more than 34 CCTV cameras have been installed at all seven gates of Kankaria for headcount and face recognition by the police team as part of security. Apart from this, personal accident insurance, fire insurance, and public liability policies have been taken for the visitors coming to the Kankaria premises.

Along with this, programs including rock band performance, musical night, DJ night, live Bhavai, and live singing will be organised.

While there was an attempt on the first day, on the morning of December 25, to create a Guinness World Record for the largest balloon mosaic prepared by the people. More than 3,500 sanitation workers of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation gathered to prepare this balloon mosaic. The decision from the Guinness World Records is expected soon.

During these seven days, programmes including Bollywood fusion, folk dance, Indian classical dance, patriotic songs, Sufi ghazals, dance drama, police band performance, Talwar Raas, carnival parade, diary, storytelling, stand-up comedy show, pet fashion show, art and craft show, science experiment science show, motivational talk, handicraft workshops, healthy living workshop, social media workshop, jewellery making workshop, clay workshop, wellness talk, music night, live concert, Lok Bhavai, karate and self-defence, painting workshop, live karaoke competition, singing and instrumental competition, mime and nukkad natak will be organised.

In between all this, live performers will entertain the visitors. Apart from this, light and sound show and laser show will be presented every night along with drone show. During the carnival, visitors will be able to enjoy the main attractions of the Kankaria complex, including Kids City, Zoo, Nocturnal Zoo, Balvatika, Butterfly Garden, Nagina Wadi, Musical Fountain, various amusement and recreational activities, and Fish Aquarium.

On the first day, while the formal inauguration was scheduled in the evening, several health-related programmes were organised from 6 am to 10 am starting with pranayama, aerobics, meditation, yoga and zumba to create awareness among citizens. This was followed by 2 to 4 pm events like clay workshop, science experiment-science show, bag painting, kids performance, karate and self-defence related programmes have been organised for children.