More than 7000 people came throughout the day on Sunday, January 12 at Eastdale Reserve to celebrate the Great Indian Kite Festival 2020.
Organisers arranged some 3,000 kites that were almost sold out with hundreds of families buying on an average of four to six kites to fly in the breezy and sunny Sunday.
The green pastures of the grounds became colourful with men, women and children clad in their Sunday family picnic day dressing and flying hundreds of soaring kites in the sky.
As the programme started at 11 a.m., the ground flocked with families with their picnic tents, camping chairs, kites, strings and string rolls.
While some soared their kites into the bright blue skies, children occupied themselves with games, bouncy castles, merry-go-round rides and painting and drawing in a canopy at the venue.
As the music played in the background, a group of random men and women got up and started doing Garba dance in front of the stage at the venue.
As the day progressed, more and more kites occupied the skies and people feasted in the food corner with lip-smacking snacks, Indian dishes, ice rolls and kulfis.
“As expected, we had an overwhelming response from the community and most of our knowns and supporters even dragged their neighbours and friends to this festival,” Manhar Patel from Vaishnav Parivar New Zealand, the organisers of the event said.
Kite Festival is a big occasion in India, especially in Gujarat, Maharashtra and parts of North India which is celebrated on the Indian festival of Makarsankranti.
The organisers also sold raffle tickets and lucky draws every hour- to keep the excitement of the visitors elevated with prizes and dance performances.
The lucky draw winners received a various range of prizes such as garden decorations, table chairs, fans, T-Shirts and a holiday package to Australia.
“The winner of the first prize of Gold Coast Holiday Package for two including airfares & four days accommodation is Mrs Sangita Rathod.
The event organisers thanked the community, supporters, sponsors and volunteers of Vaishnav Parivar New Zealand for their hard work and commitment in making this event a great success.