Ahmedabad, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on January 12 took part in the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, offering a colourful cultural backdrop to high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries. The two leaders were seen flying a kite bearing the image of Lord Hanuman, a moment that symbolised the warmth and cultural connection underlying India–Germany relations.
Chancellor Merz’s presence at the festival holds particular significance as it coincides with his first official visit to India. Earlier in the day, he and Prime Minister Modi jointly inaugurated the festival and interacted with participants, with visuals showing both leaders enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of one of Gujarat’s most iconic cultural events that attracts kite flyers from across the world.
Organised annually ahead of Makar Sankranti, the three-day International Kite Festival will conclude on January 14. This year’s edition has drawn 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries, alongside 65 participants from different parts of India and 871 local flyers from Gujarat, underscoring the festival’s growing global appeal.
Before the festival inauguration, Prime Minister Modi welcomed Chancellor Merz at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. The two leaders paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and the German Chancellor signed the visitors’ book at the historic site, highlighting shared values of peace and cooperation.
Chancellor Merz arrived in India earlier on Monday for a two-day official visit from January 12 to 13 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. He was received at the airport by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
During the visit, the two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, where they will review the progress of the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently completed 25 years. Talks are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, defence and security, science and innovation, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges.
The visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Germany. On January 13, Chancellor Merz is set to visit Bosch and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering before concluding his trip and returning to Germany. Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where they agreed to further deepen bilateral cooperation, with the current visit also coming ahead of the India–EU Summit scheduled for January 27.
