Participating in the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were spotted flying a kite that portrayed Lord Hanuman, underscoring the great cultural links between Germany and India. The yearly cultural event has diplomatic significance because Chancellor Merz is participating during his first official visit to India. PM Modi and Merz jointly opened the event earlier in the day and engaged with attendees. Pictures showed the leaders taking pleasure in the colorful festivities that attract kite fans from both India and elsewhere.
The three-day International Kite Festival, which takes place in advance of Makar Sankranti, will end on January 14. 871 local participants from Gujarat, 65 flyers from all around India, and 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries are participating in this year’s event. Chancellor Merz was greeted by Prime Minister Modi at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad prior to the festival’s opening. The German Chancellor signed the visitors’ book at the Ashram, and the two leaders presented Mahatma Gandhi with flowers. At PM Modi’s request, Chancellor Merz arrived in India earlier on Monday for a two-day formal visit from January 12 to 13. During his visit, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat welcomed the leader at the airport.
The two leaders will engage in discussions at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, focusing on the India–Germany Strategic Partnership’s progress, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Key topics will include trade, investment, technology, defence, and sustainable development. This visit aligns with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Germany. On January 13, Chancellor Merz will visit Bosch and CeNSE before returning to Germany. The meeting follows their previous encounter at the G7 Summit in Canada and precedes the India–EU Summit on January 27.
