Modi inaugurates International Kite Festival

Ahmedabad, Jan 11 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Internationl Kite Festival-2007 at Sabarmati Riverfront here today.

Like every year, the Kite Festival is being organised by Gujarat government to promote tourism in the state by attracting tourists from all over the world, Mr Modi said at the inaugural function here.

He said the state had attracted the attention of the world and created its unique identity on the global scenario with two unique cultural features -- 'Navratri', dance festival spread over nine nights and 'Kite Festival'.

The Kite Flying festival, popularly known as 'Uttrayan' in Gujarat, symbolishes the beginning of Sun's northward moment and is also known as the 'festival of lights and progress' as sunlight increases with each passing day from now on, he said.

The Kite Festival has so far attracted 59 kite-flyers from countries like Germany, Italy, UK, Australia, Spain, Finland, France, China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Netherland, S Korea, Cambodia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand and Denmark.

While 62 participants are from India, as many as 37 are from the host Gujarat itself. Followed by 11 from Maharashtra, five from Rajasthan, four from Karnataka, three Delhi and two from Andhra Pradesh.

On the occasion, over 10,000 school children of municipal schools run by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, performed Surya-Namaskar (salutation to the Sun) for being the greatest and original source of energy on earth.

The Chief Minister claimed that the International Kite Festival has earned good business for kite makers. They, are now doing a business of 100-crore annually.

He added that his government has plans to raise this figure to Rs 500 crore in half-a decade's time.

UNI