Modi and Merz launched the 2026 International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, marking a milestone in India-Germany ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival-2026 in Ahmedabad on January 12, 2026, flying a Hanuman-themed kite at the Sabarmati Riverfront. The event, marking Makar Sankranti and the 25th anniversary of India-Germany’s strategic partnership, featured 135 international participants from 50 countries and nearly 1,000 Indian and local Gujarat flyers. The leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram, toured cultural sites, and held bilateral talks on trade, defense, green development, and innovation. The festival, running through January 14, aims to boost tourism, with officials projecting over 500,000 visitors to Gujarat this year.