Ahmedabad, Jan 15 (IANS) Huge colourful fish, serpents, birds and superheroes weaved intricate patterns in the sky as around 300 enthusiasts from the country and abroad took part in Gujarat’s International Kite Festival that is fast becoming a major tourism event.

The kite festival has given the kite industry of Gujarat a boost of a whopping Rs.175 crore, said an official.

This year enthusiasts came from 24 countries and nine Indian states. While it gives the participants a platform, the local kite flyers have emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the international festival.

“Gujarat is emerging as the hub of kite flying,” said Vipul Mitra, Principal Secretary in Tourism department.

According to the figures, the kite industry had a turnover of more than Rs.100 crore.

“A survey in 2007 showed the kite industry crossed the turnover of Rs.100 crore,” Gujarat Tourism Minister Jay Narayan Vyas said.

Based on the survey’s projection, the turn over of the kite industry, which is basically a cottage industry, is now around Rs.175 crore, said an official from the tourism department.

“Over 60 thousand people are employed in this industry,” said Mitra.

The local flyers have benefitted from this festival, Chairman of Ahmedabad Kite Foundation Ujal I. Shah said.

“When international artists come here, we learn from their models, and they are impressed with our kites as well, which are economic to make,” he said.

Indian kites are characterized with sharp thread, which is coated with glass powder to cut the thread of other kites, something unknown to people from abroad.

“We want our traditional kites to be promoted,” added Shah.

The international kite festival was started in Gujarat in 1989, it was publicised by Gujarat government since last few years.

Nearly 300 people, including 81 international participants from 24 countries, gathered in the city of Ahmedabad, displaying the best of their art. The kites in various shapes of a fish, serpent, bird, superheroes and even mythological figures enthralled the locals.

“The culture of flying kites is diminishing, of course because of things like television and computer games,” said V. K. Rao, a kite flyer participant from Karnataka.

International kite flyers however add that children need to be taught how to enjoy sport.

“We need to teach our children how to enjoy activities like flying kite. When the family goes out and does such activities together, children learn,” said Irene Wysoudil, a kite flyer from Vienna.

“It is always great to come to India for this festival,” added Emn Boxby of Turkey, whose giant red fish dots was one of the major attractions.