PM Modi, German Chancellor Merz inaugurate International Kite Festival 2026 at Sabarmati Riverfront

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.

The two leaders participated in the festival as part of Chancellor Merz’s first official visit to India, highlighting the blend of cultural celebration and diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

Visuals from the event show both leaders interacting with participants and enjoying the vibrant festivities, which attract kite enthusiasts from across the country and abroad. Both leaders also flew kites together during the event.

With Makar Sankranti just a few days away, the International Kite Festival will run for three days, concluding on January 14, with participation from 135 international kite enthusiasts representing 50 countries. Alongside them, 65 flyers from across India and 871 local participants from Gujarat will also take part in the event.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz seen flying a kite depicting Lord Hanuman at the International Kite Festival 2026 at Sabarmati Riverfront. pic.twitter.com/ZjT8FrAP7o

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2026

Prior to the inauguration of the festival, PM Narendra Modi welcomed the German Chancellor Merz to Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. After his arrival at the Ashram, both leaders paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Merz also signed the visitors’ book there.

The visit is part of Chancellor Merz’s official trip to India, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and Germany, and coincides with celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.

Earlier on Monday, the German Federal Chancellor arrived in India for a two-day official visit to the country since assuming office. According to a Ministry of External Affairs post on X, Chancellor Merz was warmly received by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat at the airport upon his arrival in the western state. The visit came at the invitation of PM Modi.

Merz will be in India from January 12 to January 13. Both leaders will also hold bilateral engagements from 11:15 am onwards at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. The two leaders will review progress on the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently marked its 25th anniversary.

Their discussion will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while advancing collaboration in key areas of defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties. On January 13, Merz will visit Bosch, then the Nano Science and Engineering, CeNSE, and depart for Germany.

PM Modi and Chancellor Merz last held discussions on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where the two leaders agreed to further broaden the bilateral strategic partnership. During that interaction, Prime Minister Modi invited the German Chancellor to an official visit to New Delhi. The visit is also taking place in the lead-up to the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27. (ANI)