Uttarayan 2027 in Ahmedabad: Kite Festival & Events
Uttarayan, Gujarat's kite festival, is celebrated on 14 January every year, with a second day, Vasi Uttarayan, on 15 January. In 2027 they fall on a Thursday and a Friday. On both days Ahmedabad moves to its rooftops from before sunrise until after dark, flying kites, cutting rivals' lines to shouts of 'kai po chhe' and eating undhiyu, jalebi and sesame chikki; after dark come tukkals, kites flown with strings of lit lanterns. The festival has two parts. The first is the International Kite Festival that the state tourism department stages on the Sabarmati Riverfront, where kite teams from India and abroad fly giant show kites over several days before Uttarayan. In 2026 the state festival ran from 10 January and Ahmedabad hosted it from 12 January; the 2027 dates had not been announced at the time of writing. The second is the city's own celebration, best seen from a terrace in the old city's pols, where heritage houses sell day passes with food. The kite markets at Raipur Darwaja, Jamalpur and Kalupur's Tankshal stay open through the night in the final week. This page lists kite festival events, terrace passes, workshops and Uttarayan parties in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
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Good to know
- Book an old-city terrace pass early; the best pol-house terraces sell out in December.
- Do not buy or use glass-coated nylon or 'Chinese' string. It has been banned by government notification because it injures people and birds, and police seize it. Chinese sky lanterns have also been banned in recent years.
- If you ride a two-wheeler on 14 and 15 January, wear a helmet with the visor down and a scarf or neck guard. Stray kite string across roads and flyovers causes serious injuries every year.
- Avoid flying kites at dawn and dusk, when birds are most active. The state's Karuna Abhiyan rescue campaign runs through the festival, and the animal helpline is 1962.
- Wear sunglasses, a cap and sunscreen, and tape your index fingers before handling the string.
- Buy kites and firki in the old-city markets a day or two before. Prices are highest on the night of the 13th.
Frequently asked questions
When is Uttarayan in 2027?
Uttarayan is celebrated on 14 January, a Thursday in 2027, and Vasi Uttarayan on Friday 15 January. Gujarat observes the festival on these dates every year.
When is the International Kite Festival 2027 in Ahmedabad?
Gujarat Tourism had not announced the 2027 dates at the time of writing. The festival is held on the Sabarmati Riverfront in the days leading up to 14 January; in 2026 the state festival began on 10 January and Ahmedabad hosted it from 12 January.
Where can tourists fly kites in Ahmedabad?
The best experience is on a rooftop in the old city's pols, where heritage homes and hotels sell terrace passes with food. The riverfront festival is for watching professional kite flyers.
Where are the kite markets in Ahmedabad?
The main patang bazaars are around Raipur Darwaja, Jamalpur and Tankshal in Kalupur, in the old city. They stay open through the night in the week before Uttarayan.
What food is eaten on Uttarayan?
Undhiyu with puri and jalebi, chikki made from sesame or peanuts with jaggery, and sugarcane and winter fruits on the terrace.
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