International kite festival in Hyderabad from Jan 12-17

Kite flyers from 17 countries are participating in KITE 2017, Telangana State's second International Kite Festival which is commencing here on Thursday.

Telangana Tourism, Incredible India have joined hands with the Hyderabad-based Aga Khan Academy, to host the event in the 100-acre campus of the Aga Khan Academy near Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad.

As a prelude to the festival which will continue up to January 17, special night kite flying displays by Singapore's team using remote controlled kites for the first time in India will take place at People's Plaza, Necklace Road, Hyderabad on Thursday.

“Traditionally kites are flown with strings. But, remote controlled flying of kites is something revolutionary, which has not been witnessed much in India," said Geoffrey Fisher, Head of the Aga Khan Academy.

The festival has drawn 41 professionals from 17 countries including France, Indonesia, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Singapore, Australia, Scotland - UK, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Italy, Ukraine, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Poland.

They will be joined by 30 kite-flyers from across the country including Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Dodbalpur, Karnataka; Baroda and Mangalore, according to a release.

Telangana Tourism is extending KITE into a week-long festival spread across four districts and expects a total footfall of 50,000.