The International Kite Festival is always held at Ahmedabad on January 14, to coincide with the festival of Uttarayan or Makar Sankranti. It is a joyous day, with a bright sun, clear skies and breezes strong enough to lift innumerable kites aloft. It is in fact a celebration to mark the end of winter, when the heat of summer is still to come. Kites are flown all over Gujarat, and Ahmedabad and Baroda become cities of kite-flyers.The gods who are believed to have slumbered for six long months are now awake and the portals of heaven are thrown open! The temples are thronged with visitors and alms are distributed freely. Indian Travel agent provides hotel bookings, hotel booking in India.
The excitement does not end with nightfall, which is the time for illuminated box kites, often in a series strung on one line, to be launched into the sky. Called "tukkals", they add a touch of splendour to the dark sky. Today, an International Kite Festival is held at Ahmedabad, which draws visitors from all over the world. The visitor is naturally curious to learn more about kites, and his curiosity can be satisfied at the Museum, which presents briefly and colourfully, the history of kites. For instance, we learn that in 200 B.C. Huan Thang of China flew a kite at night to overawe the army of the Han dynasty. From 100 B.C. to A.D. 500, kites were used for sending signals and to measure the distance of enemy camps. By A.D. 930, the Japanese mention "Shiroshi", meaning paper bird, for the first time. Between A.D. 960 and 1126, kite-flying become a popular sport in China. Indian Travel agent provides hotel bookings, hotel booking in India.The 9th day of the 9th month was a day when kites were flown to banish evil. In Indian literature, kites were mentioned for the first time in " Madhumati" by Manzan, and were called "patang", which is the word still used today.