PM Modi, German Chancellor Merz inaugurate International Kite Festival 2026 in Ahmedabad

At the International Kite Festival 2026, PM Modi explained to Chancellor Merz the heritage and culture of Ahmedabad from the various displays and setup of old Haveli-like structures symbolising the pols (residential clusters) of Ahmedabad.

It was set up as a part of the heritage walkway including a kite museum that has also been created. The dignitaries received detailed insights into kites from various states, crafted using different materials and techniques. They also witnessed live demonstrations by skilled artisans showcasing the art of kite-making.

The dignitaries from both nations were welcomed with special cultural performances, including Gujarat’s Beda Raas, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, and the ancient traditional sport of Mallakhamb.

While the event venue is at Vallabh Sadan on the west bank of the Sabarmati Riverfront, a colour blast in Indian and German flag colours welcomed the dignitaries at the East bank as they looked over the Riverfront.

PM Modi and Chancellor Merz took a round of the venue in an open vehicle as colourful kites flew above them. They also tried their hands at flying different kites like a multi-kite string of Indian national flag colours, kites by Colombian and German kite flyers teams.

Furthermore, 108 artists from Gujarat and Rajasthan presented a musical ensemble featuring instruments such as sitar, sarangi, violin, mandolin, harmonium, flute, dholak, tabla, and mridang. The performance included renditions of Vande Mataram, Vaishnav Jan, and German melodies, symbolising the friendship between India and Germany.

On the evening of the 13th, a distinctive blend of music and colours will be witnessed. At 7:00 pm, a symphony performance featuring 108 artists, along with a special cultural programme, will offer an immersive experience.

Kite flyers from nearly 50 countries are showcasing their skills at the festival.

As many as 1,071 kite flyers, including 135 from 50 countries, 65 from 13 Indian states and 871 from 16 districts of Gujarat, are participating in the International Kite Festival 2026. At the International Kite Festival–2026, kite flyers from around 50 countries—including Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the U.K., the United States of America, Vietnam, Slovenia, Bahrain, Nepal, Turkey and Jordan—are participating.

The German Chancellor is set to proceed to Gandhinagar, where he is scheduled to hold a meeting with PM Modi at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre. The high-level meeting is expected to be followed by press statements by the two leaders.

Metz is scheduled to spend a night in Ahmedabad before flying to Bengaluru on Tuesday morning. This marks the German Chancellor’s first official visit to India and his first bilateral trip outside of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries.