Vadodara, Gujarat:
Kite fliers from as many as 35 countries have landed at Mandvi coast in Kutch district of Gujarat, said district authorities.
"After flying kites in the 'white desert' (Safed Rann) at Dordo on Wednesday, the kite enthusiasts have turned up in Mandvi to fly kites on the beach," said district collector, M Thenarsan.
"It is also promoting tourism in this part of the state," he said. Over 5,000 people have gathered there today.
The turn-over of the kite industry in the state this time is expected to be around Rs 400 crore, ahead of the festival of Uttarayan on January 14, said state tourism minister Jaynarayan Vyas.
Despite 20 to 30 per cent hike in the prices of kites and strings (`manjha'), the sales are picking up across the state, he said.
Interestingly, the kite-flying season is also witnessing brisk sale of "neck belts", which protect necks from kite-strings. Strings often have coating of abrasive substances such as crushed glass which helps cut other kites, but can also cause injuries.