Hyderabad’s kite festival draws huge crowds
Hyderabad: Secunderabad’s Parade Ground turned lively on Monday with festival vibes, as the International Kite and Sweet Festival officially began. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar Goud and Jupally Krishna Rao inaugurated the event by lighting a ceremonial lamp.
The festival has drawn 40 international kite flyers from 16 countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Italy, and Sri Lanka, along with 60 kite enthusiasts from various Indian states. Showcasing a mix of traditional and modern kite designs, the event celebrates the art and culture of kite flying.
Krishnamoorthy R., an international trade businessman, shared with Deccan Chronicle, “We came around 2 pm with my family. My kids are having a great time flying kites, and I've already bought 15 kites today. We’re planning to come back for the next two days as well.” He added, “Watching all the different varieties of kites has made my kids even more excited.”
Additionally, the kites in the sky featured a variety of shapes, including cartoon characters, dragons, trains, fish, dragon snakes with lights, hand-painted kites, and more. Families participated in competitions among themselves.
Henry Luong Dung, 54-year-old kite flyer from Vietnam, participated in the festival for the first time. "This is my second visit to India, but my first time in Hyderabad," he shared. "We brought five kites, including goldfish and seal designs, which we handcrafted." Henry described the event as exciting, noting the cultural dances and Indian sweets that enhanced the festive atmosphere.
Guilherme Linares, 59-year-old, from Italy, a professional kite designer, praised the event’s organisation despite a personal setback. "I’ve enjoyed flying my kites," he said. "For me, kite flying is freedom. It’s not about the size or type of kite, but the joy of flying."
Adding to the excitement, the festival features stalls offering a variety of sweets, snacks, and cultural exhibits from India and around the world.
Anayatullah Ali Zada, a 15-year-old from Kabul, Afghanistan, expressed his excitement about sharing Afghan specialties like baklavas, Turkish samosas, and blankets filled with dates, dry fruits, and chocolates. "This is my first time here. It’s exciting because people are happily buying the food, and we are almost sold out," he said.
The Ethiopia stall introduced visitors to the country's famous organic plum coffee at the festival.
Diego, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, introduced visitors to Dulce de Leche, a rich caramel-like spread made from cow’s milk, sugar, and vanilla. "It takes about eight hours to prepare. We’ve paired it with brownies and cupcakes to show how versatile it can be," he explained. This is Diego’s third time at the festival, and he expressed his love for Hyderabad.
"The kindness of people here makes every visit special," he said.
The stall vendors expressed their gratitude to the Telangana government for providing opportunities for homemakers to showcase their homemade sweets and snacks at the festival.
Stalls from Tamil Nadu featured adrasam, thenkuzhal murukku (made with coconut milk), thatta, gijar danda, and kuli paniyaram. Kerala’s stalls offered Elaiyada, Unniyappam, Pradhaman payasam, and palampur. The Karnataka stall presented Urad dal ladoo, Moong Dal ladoo, Motichur ladoo, Sajja roti, chaat, and bhelpuri.
A traffic police officer at the Parade Ground said, "There is no problem with parking, and we are making sure traffic moves smoothly for the event." He also added that emergency vehicles, like fire trucks and ambulances, are ready at the ground in case of an emergency.
The event was attended by Patel Ramesh Reddy, the chairman of the Tourism Development Corporation, Dr. Vennela Gaddar, representatives from various states, and several other officials.