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Ahmedabad/ New Delhi: Visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday got a taste of India’s vibrant cultural traditions as he joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the International Kite Flying Festival in Ahmedabad. Photographs from the event showed Modi personally guiding Merz through the finer points of kite flying, turning the moment into a blend of cultural exchange and informal diplomacy. The German leader appeared visibly engaged as colourful kites dotted the city’s sky.
The spectacle went beyond celebration. Kites depicting Lord Hanuman, the Tricolour, and references to Operation Sindoor filled the air, symbolising what organisers described as India’s growing confidence—spiritual, national and strategic—on the global stage.
Reacting to the visuals, the Bharatiya Janata Party said the event represented more than a ceremonial gesture. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya described it as a reflection of a “new India” that is confident in its culture and unhesitant to share it with the world.
“PM Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad is a vibrant celebration of India’s culture, confidence and global connect,” Malviya said in a statement. “From tradition to national resolve, from cultural roots to global partnerships, India today shares its civilisational spirit with the world—unapologetically and proudly.”
Following the festival, Modi and Merz are scheduled to hold bilateral engagements in Ahmedabad, where discussions are expected to focus on strengthening India–Germany ties across economic, technological and strategic domains. This marks Merz’s first official visit to India, with the Ahmedabad engagements setting a distinctly cultural tone for the high-level diplomatic visit.
