Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday addressed the International Kite Festival–2026 in the national capital, urging sustained efforts to turn the event into a major national and international attraction that connects people across states and cultures.
Extending greetings to citizens – especially farmers – on the occasions of Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, Magh Bihu and Uttarayan, Shah said the festival is celebrated across India under different names but with a shared spirit of joy and unity. Quoting the great poet Kalidasa’s line “Utsavpriyāḥ khalu manuṣyāḥ” (people of India are fond of festivals), he said India’s festivals have always served as a means to unite society and move forward together.
Calling for a more structured approach to expand the kite festival, Shah suggested constituting a committee to popularise the event and increase public participation, with Delhi as its focal point. He said the aim should be to position the Delhi kite festival among the leading kite festivals in India and the world.
The Home Minister also highlighted Baansera, a nature park in Delhi adorned with bamboo varieties from across the country, as an emerging tourist attraction. He said the park demonstrated how strong resolve could translate into impactful results on the ground and urged the Delhi government to organise more events there to attract citizens and visitors.
Recalling the role of kite flying in India’s freedom movement, Shah noted that during the protest against the Simon Commission, people across the country marked Uttarayan by flying kites carrying the slogan “Simon Go Back”, filling the skies as a powerful symbol of resistance.
Describing Makar Sankranti as a living example of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, Shah said the festival reflects India’s cultural diversity – from Lohri in Punjab and Haryana and Pongal in Tamil Nadu to Magh Bihu in Assam, Paush Sankranti in West Bengal, and Uttarayan in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Delhi kite festival, he added, is an effort to bring these traditions together in the capital and provide a platform for kite flyers from India and abroad.
Shah also referred to the recent Somnath Swabhiman Parv held in Gujarat from January 8 to 11 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath Temple. He said the coming year would be observed nationwide as Somnath Swabhiman Varsh.
Highlighting the resilience of the Somnath Temple, Shah said that despite being attacked and destroyed multiple times, it was rebuilt each time with greater resolve. “Those who destroyed it have vanished from history, but the Somnath Temple stands tall with dignity and honour,” he said, calling it a symbol of the timeless and eternal nature of Sanatan culture.
The event was attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and other dignitaries.
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