International Paper Snake Festival in India (14/01)

Paper snakes of all possible colors, shapes and sizes are flying into the blue winter sky of India today.

Paper snakes have undoubtedly become one of the embodiment of man's dream of flying into the sky. The history of the creation and development of paper snakes is impressive in its length and fascinating in its richness. Therefore, it is no coincidence that paper snake festivals are held in many countries around the world and attract both amateurs and professionals of this art.

In India, the International Kite Festival is held annually in January. The venue chosen is a city in western India, Ahmedabad, which is the largest city in Gujarat. The festival coincides with the Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan festival, a festival celebrating the movement of the sun into the northern hemisphere and the change of seasons, and, consequently, the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

The end of the winter season — is the time of the International Paper Snake Festival — with a significantly blue and cloudless sky, the smells of spring nature brought by the cool wind, feelings of anticipation, joy and jubilation that cover everyone who strives to attend the festival.

To be more precise, paper snake festivals are held in many big cities of Gujarat, but the Ahmedabad International Paper Snake Festival historically occupies a special place because it was in Ahmedabad that the origins of the celebration of Uttarayana were born.

The International Paper Snake Festival in Ahmedabad brings together professionals and amateurs, paper snake manufacturers and experts not only from India, but from almost every corner of the world. The design, color, and size of the products literally amaze the imagination with their variety. And among the participants you can find both young people and gray-haired elderly people. Families, groups of friends and colleagues come to the festival. Numerous spectators watch the show not only from specially equipped areas on the ground, but also from the roofs of their houses or nearby buildings.

Paper snakes floating in the sky resemble intricate birds rushing into the endless sky. But the nighttime launches of paper snakes are truly amazing. They are illuminated from the inside and are usually connected by a common thread in one line.

By the way, having visited the Ahmedabad paper snake museum, you can learn a lot of interesting things from the history of this art form. For example, in 1870, Australian inventor Lawrence Hargrave developed a box-shaped paper snake design that was lightweight and durable, as well as good stability and high lift. It is this design that is believed to have served as the prototype for the first biplanes in the early 20th century.

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