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Modi inaugurates three-day international kite festival in Ahmedabad

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ANI Ahmedabad

Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi has inaugurated a three-day international kite festival in the state.

The inauguration also marked the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

A slew of performances were given by the children at the function where they were seen doing various formations of yoga.

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The international kite festival also boosts tourism, as kite flyers, from Indian and abroad, take part with great enthusiasm.

"This kite festival depicts the love of the nature, the environment and the tourism as well. So, this festival helps in targeting three aspects," said Modi.

Modi also spoke about Swami Vivekananda and said that the Hindu monk was a source of inspiration for the youths across the nation.

 

"For every youth of the country and the world, Swami Vivekananda is a big inspiration," added Modi.

Scores of skilled kite fliers descended on Ahmedabad on Sunday to take part in the International Kite Festival.

Around 100 kite enthusiasts from 40 countries flew in to outdo each other, filling the city's sky with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes.

Thrilled spectators were seen gazing at vibrant and, in some cases, peculiar-shaped kites floating in the clear blue skies.

The annual kite-flying festival , which marks the start of spring, involved aerial duels in which participants tried to bring down each other's kites using string coated in a sticky paste of ground-up glass or metal.

The festival coincides with Uttarayan, the country's largest kite festival during which the entire city takes to the rooftops, and has become a favourite destination for hundreds of kite fliers from across the world.

Kite fliers from eleven countries, including Ukraine, Switzerland, Indonesia, Belgium, UK, Lebanon, Lithunia, Italy, South Korea, and Turkistan participated in the festival.

The festival will conclude on January 14 with the festivities taking a feverish pitch as it coincides with the Hindu festival of 'Makar Sakranti', which is celebrated across the country.

Other highlights of the event included about 2000 students performing acrobats and yoga formations such as 'Surya Namaskar' and march past.

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First Published: Jan 13 2014 | 1:21 PM IST

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