DDA’s 3rd International Kite Festival draws record 27,000 visitors to Baansera

The Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) 3rd International Kite Festival attracted a record footfall of nearly 27,000 visitors over three days at Baansera on the Yamuna bank. The festival emerges as one of the Capital’s most popular cultural events. The surge in attendance, more than double that of the previous edition, underlined the growing public response to large-scale, open-air cultural celebrations in Delhi.

Organised from January 16 to 18 under the guidance of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, the festival was inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in the presence of the Lt Governor and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The event brought together kite flyers, cultural performers and families from across the city, turning Baansera into a vibrant hub of activity over the weekend.

Highlighting the strong public response, the Lt Governor shared details of the turnout in a social media post. “The International Kite Festival held at DDA’s Baansera seems to be emerging as a popular destination on the Capital’s event calendar. On its opening day, starting at 1:00 PM, it had 3000 visitors, 9000 on the second day and more than 15000 till 4:00 PM on closing day. The 11th International Dance & Music Festival, being organised by ICCR, simultaneously at the venue, is similarly getting an enthusiastic response,” the post said. He also shared some pictures of kite flying.

DDA officials said the numbers reflect the festival’s rapid rise in popularity. The steady increase in footfall over the three days, particularly on the final day, pointed to strong word-of-mouth and growing interest among families and young visitors.

A major attraction of the festival was the participation of professional kite flyers from India and abroad, who showcased a wide variety of kites and aerial manoeuvres. Their performances were complemented by a dedicated exhibition tracing the history and evolution of kite flying, which drew enthusiasts of all age groups.

The parallel 11th International Dance and Music Festival organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) added more flavours to the festivities. The simultaneous programming ensured continuous cultural performances at the venue, keeping audiences engaged throughout the day.

The festival was designed as a family-friendly event, offering children’s play activities, camel rides, a colourful Patang Bazaar and multiple food stalls.

Families were seen spending long hours at the venue, flying kites, attending performances and enjoying the open green spaces along the riverfront.