Uttarayan, celebrated every year on January 14 to coincide with the Hindu auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, turns the sky into a kaleidoscopic starburst of color in Gujarat. Though kites of all descriptions take to the sky in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Nadiad, the most phenomenal spectacle is on display at the International Kite Festival held every year in Ahmedabad. Visitors from all over the world flock to admire, participate and photograph this pageant of color and invention. Yahoo! reader Nisarg Lakhmani sends us these lovely photos from Ahmedabad.
A kite takes to the air at the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad

A kite shaped like a multitentacled spider balloons up before it is airborne

Since 1989 Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan

Unusual kites from Malaysia and Indonesia join local Indian kites in a colorful pageant.

A kite looks down at the tiny word below

Banner kites, fighting kites and sculptural kites are just some of the varieties of kites brought to Ahmedabad by master kitemakers.

The official entry of Gujarat Tourism at the Kite Festival. Since 1989 Ahmedabad has hosted the International Kite Festival as part of the official celebration of Uttarayan.

Is that a slogan? Or a protest? Kites bearing messages perhaps make a stronger statement than T-shirts.

Kitemakers from all over the world showcase their art at the winter festival of Uttarayan.

An enormous crab-shaped kite takes wing

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