AKA, Hyderabad Hosts International Kite Festival

The Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad hosted KITE 2016, Telangana’s first international kite festival on 14–15 January 2016, at the Academy campus. This two-day event was an initiative of the Department of Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture of the Telangana State Government, in collaboration with Shilparamam, the arts, crafts and cultural village; the Architecture and Design Foundation, India; and the Royal Kite Flyers Club of India.

The Academy's 100-acre campus was an ideal venue for the event, which included participation from national and international teams of talented kite-flyers. Over 6,000 people attended over the two days, including kite enthusiasts, families and school communities who gathered to celebrate the rich cultural, food and craft traditions of Hyderabad and the Deccan region. The festival featured a seasonal food fair as well as a full festival programme for children and adults that included kite design, making and painting; photography competitions; paper craft and origami; and presentations and exhibitions on kite flying.

KITE 2016 aimed to promote women’s empowerment, particularly girl child education, and to raise awareness and support for merit-based opportunities to access world class education through collaboration with NGOs, and corporate and government agencies.

Click here to see a photo gallery of the event.