Traditional Indian kites were made of colourful paper and were akin to art treasures, with their beautiful patterned designs, and rich colours. But these are rarely found in the market nowadays. Like many other craft objects, India’s elaborate kites have disappeared from popular usage. But nowadays, with increasing inflation and labour costs, kite makers only produce complex, elaborately designed kites on special orders and these are quite exorbitant. It is the simple fighter kites that rule the Indian kite market.

On man, Mr. Bhanubhai Shah from Ahmedabad, an artist, painter, a man with a passion for photography, and design, has been collecting kites since he was a young man. Though he flew kites as a young boy, it was only later when he was a young man that he started to realize that the Indian kites were remarkably beautiful; like exquisite works of art created in the hands of master craftsmen of India. He observed that the kites had complex, exclusive designs, though they were mass-produced. His love for the kites caused him to collect a large number of them. His collection has kites from all over the country.

Over the years Mr. Bhanubai Shah started to realize that the Indian kite was no longer viewed as a piece of art, but as a disposable object, to be thrown away after the kite festival. The requirement of it to fly well had overtaken the necessity of good looks. This was evident from the way in which the kite makers started to produce kites with simplified designs and in large numbers to make more money. In order to succeed in the competitive markets, kite makers have been forced to simplify the designs and are churning out more kites in the same amount of time that it took to make one elaborate kite, thus making their money and making the kite affordable to the average Indian kite flying enthusiast. Inflation and increasing labour costs led to this changing trend, which made Mr. Bhanubai Shah wonder if there could be a way to safeguard the traditional Indian kite designs.

He realized that unless there was a way of showcasing his collection, rather than just keeping them carefully packed and stored at his home, that part of the Indian kite journey would be lost to the generations to come. His vision to ensure that Indian kites would not disappear from the country’s history led to the creation of a dedicated museum for kites in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India.

He approached the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, asking its members to accept the donation of his kite collection and make a wing of Sanskar Kendra into a kite museum. His tenacity and enthusiasm led to the safeguarding of the Indian kite, through this museum. The Ahmedabad kite museum is the first of its kind in India to be open to the public in the year 1985. It is the first municipally sponsored museum of its kind anywhere in the world. It has a permanent collection of Mr. Bhanubai Shah’s collection of kites along with regular exhibitions and the promotion of research relating to Indian kites. 

(Image source)

(Image source)

(Image source)

(Image source)

This museum has since its inception received a lot of public enthusiasm and worldwide critical acclaim. The collection has large kites to some small kites along with kites crafted from 400 pieces of paper to kites in unique colours in its collection. The kites are crafted from different materials including polythene, nylon, cotton and paper in its collection. There are kites with miniature paintings of Radha Krishna, kites displaying intricately crafted sequences of Garba – a dance form unique to the state of Gujarat – performed in the reverence of Goddess Durga during the Navratras, (which means nine nights) a popular festival of Gujarat. The kites also display the unique mirror work and block prints - Gujarat’s famous crafts.

In addition to all the kites displayed at the museum, information and pictures related to the history of kite flying as practiced throughout the world also shares space of equal importance.

This museum has been attracting thousands of visitors every year; not only kite enthusiasts from all over the world but also the general public, who come to view the extraordinary kite collection.

This museum has become one of the major tourist attractions of Ahmedabad. A visit to this museum is a must for an enriching experience of the kite flying scenario in India.