Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday attended the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront, where both the leaders were seen flying kites bearing the image of Lord Hanuman.

This participation of Chancellor Merz comes during his first official visit to India, which shows the cultural and diplomatic importance of this event. Earlier, the two leaders together inaugurated the Kite Mahotsav at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad and participated in the event, which marks a fusion of cultural celebration and diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Photographs from the event show both the leaders interacting with the participants and enjoying the colorful festival which attracts kite lovers from across the country and abroad.

With only a few days left for Makar Sankranti, this International Kite Festival will last for three days and will end on January 14. 135 international kite flyers from 50 countries are participating in it. Along with them, 65 kite flyers from across India and 871 local participants from Gujarat will also participate in the event. Ahead of the inauguration of the festival, PM Narendra Modi welcomed German Chancellor Merz at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. After their arrival at the ashram, both the leaders paid homage to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. Merz also signed the visitors' book there.

The visit is part of Chancellor Merz's official visit to India, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between India and Germany. The visit comes at a time when both the countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of India-Germany strategic partnership. Earlier today, the German Chancellor arrived in India on his first two-day official visit after assuming office.

According to a post on Twitter by the Ministry of External Affairs, Chancellor Merz was warmly welcomed by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat at the airport upon his arrival in the western state. This visit took place on the invitation of PM Modi. Merz will be in India from January 12 to January 13. Both the leaders will also hold bilateral meetings at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar from 11:15 am. The two leaders will review the progress made on the India-Germany strategic partnership, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Their discussions will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility. There will also be talks on furthering cooperation in key areas such as defense and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

On January 13, Merz Bosch, then Head of Nano Science and Engineering, will visit CeNSE and leave for Germany. PM Modi and Chancellor Merz last held discussions on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, where the two leaders agreed to further enhance the bilateral strategic partnership. During that conversation, Prime Minister Modi had invited the German Chancellor for an official visit to New Delhi. This visit is taking place just before the India-EU summit to be held on January 27.