- Sister City Spirit: PATANG-O-DORI marks a year of Hamamatsu–Ahmedabad partnership
- Cultural Fusion: Japanese Tako kites meet Amdavadi Patang in a sky-high celebration
- Diplomatic Winds: Gujarat–Japan bonds soar through tradition, art and people-to-people ties
NE FEATURES BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JAN 16
The skies over Ahmedabad turned into a canvas of cultural harmony as the mayors of Hamamatsu and Ahmedabad flew kites together, symbolically lifting the spirit of friendship that binds the two sister cities. The unique celebration, titled PATANG-O-DORI (Japanese Kite Flying Demonstration): Dancing in the Sky with Amdavadi Patang!, was hosted by IJFA Gujarat and Shreyas Foundation on the auspicious morning of Uttarayan.
The event commemorated the first anniversary of the Hamamatsu–Ahmedabad Sister City Partnership while also celebrating 50 years of enduring bonds between Gujarat and Japan through a vibrant exchange of traditions, music and community participation.
Highlighting the significance of the occasion, Mukesh Patel, Honorary Consul of Japan in Ahmedabad, said, “To mark the first anniversary of the Hamamatsu – Ahmedabad Sister City Partnership and 50 years of vibrant bonding between Gujarat and Japan, the unique cultural event PATANG-O-DORI held on the morning of Uttarayan at the Shreyas Foundation.”
Adding a special international dimension, the Hon’ble Mayor of Hamamatsu, Yusuke Nakano, led a delegation of 15 expert kite flyers from Hamamatsu, famously known as the Kite Capital of Japan. The Japanese team showcased their traditional kite-flying techniques with spectacular three-metre-long colourful Japanese Tako kites, flown with ropes and accompanied by traditional bugles and dancers dressed in Happy Coats. The performance blended seamlessly with Gujarati folk dancers and folk music, creating a powerful fusion of two ancient kite cultures.
Describing the deeper meaning of the celebration, Abhay Mangaldas, Chairman of Shreyas Foundation and Founder of The House of MG & Agashiye, said, “It was based on a unique fusion of Indian and Japanese traditions, symbolizing the deep-rooted harmony between the two regions.”
The kite-flying celebration was graced by several distinguished guests, including Sujan Chinoy (Former Ambassador of India to Japan; Director General, IDSA), Hiraki Sho (Vice Governor, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan), Yusuke Nakano (Mayor, Hamamatsu City, Japan), Pratibha Jain (Mayor of Ahmedabad), Koji Yagi (Consul General of Japan in Mumbai), Kinji Saito (Director, Suzuki Motors Corporation, Japan), Kaoru Saito (Chairman, Hamamatsu Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Taichi Okamoto (Manager, India Division, Suzuki Motors Corporation, Japan), and Binay Kumar (Chairman, Indian Community of Hamamatsu).
The celebration formed a key highlight of GOLDFEST 2026, inspired by the Honorary Consulate of Japan in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, reinforcing how cultural diplomacy, when expressed through shared traditions, can build lasting international relationships.
