International kite fliers steal the show at Vadodara fest

International kite fliers today stole the show at the Kite Festival held at the premises of Royal Lakshmi Vilas Palace located in the middle of the city.

Eight kite fliers from France, 5 from Turkey, 4 from Israel, 4 from Switzerland and 2 each from Indonesia, Germany made a mark at the International Kite Festival organised jointly by Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), district collectorate and Gujarat Tourism Corporation Ltd.

Kite fliers from Kerala, Karnataka and from Vadodara, Anand and other parts of the state too displayed their skills at the event, where 186 kite fliers were present.

Kite festival is also be being held at Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Rajkot, Pavagadh, Valsad, Gandhidham among other places.
 

"The events like International Kite Festival have put Vadodara on global map," Vinod Rao, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), commissioner, said.

Talking to PTI 47-year-old Helmi Ginanti from Bali in Indonesia said "I and my colleague Bagus Ugarsena Narendra brought kites having traditional and spiritual themes depicting Lords Jagannatha, Hanuman and Shiva."

"These Indian Gods including Lord Ganesh, Lord Vishnu and Lord Bramha are worshipped in Indonesia as well." Ginanti said, it was her fourth visit to the state to participate in the kite festival.

Another Indonesian Bagus Ugarsena, who has travelled around 200 countries and won kite flying event in Gujarat many times, said, "Kite flying is the thing that connects me to God. Even members of Muslim community in Indonesia participate in the kite festival held there."

Ginanti said "I am a great fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has a dynamic personality and had met him thrice when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat during the International Kite Festival held."

"I have preserved his (Modi's) photograph with me taken during a meeting in Ahmedabad," she said.

Tessa Gambassi Roger, a 53-year-old kite flier from France said, "It is my fourth visit to Gujarat to take part in this annual event. I am engaged in the business of making big size kites."

Henri Prat, another kite flier from France said, "During my fourth visit to the state this year, I will like to to tie up with kite manufacturers in Gujarat and other parts of the country for exporting Australian make kites here."

Mayor Bharat Dangar and commissioner Rao kicked of the event by flying kites in presence of BJP MP Ranjanben Bhatt, MLAs Jitendra Sukhadia and Manisha Vakil.