Under the Ahmedabad Sky

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Filmmakers: Francesca Lignola and Stefano Rebechi

Every year for several days the Ahmedabad sky is filled with kites in celebration of the festival of Uttarayan.

The Indian city has five million inhabitants and it is said that 80 per cent of them take part in the kite-flying.

While no doubt fun, the festival is also serious business. Kite flying during the annual festival is also a competition to cut down others’ kites, requiring dozens of paper kites, specially created, glass infused string, practice and skill.

Investigating the economic and cultural importance of the yearly festival, this film gives viewers an insight to the specialised knowledge and work behind something as seemingly simple as a beautiful, coloured sky.

Under the Ahmedabad Sky aired from Tusday, January 11, 2011.