Ahmedabad: CM Vijay Rupani today inaugurated the 31st International Kite Festival of Gujarat at the Sabarmati riverfront here today.

Over 140 kite flying experts from more than 40 countries and around 800 from Gujarat and almost 200 from 12 other states are participating in the festival which is simultaneously being organized at 9 places across the state including Kevadiya, Surat and Vadodara.

The high commissioners of 18 countries would also attend the festival.

On the occasion of the inauguration CM Rupani said that the Kite Festival has become an identity of sorts for Gujarat. He said that the size of kite Industry in the state has increased manifold to the tune of Rs 600 crore now. He also talked about how such events promoted tourism in the state. He also said that in just a year after the unveiling of the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya where also the festival was being held, almost 35 lakh domestic and foreign tourists visited it.

The event will be organized till 14 th January ie Uttarayan day.

Governor Acharya Devvrat was also present on the occasion of the inauguration of the festival.

DeshGujarat