9th ONGC–MRPL International Kite Festival to be held on Jan 17–18 as part of Karavali Utsava

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 13, 2026: The 9th edition of the ONGC–MRPL International Kite Festival will take place on January 17 and 18, 2026, as part of the Karavali Utsava celebrations. This year, the festival will be hosted at a new venue, Blue Bay Beach, Tannirbavi, Mangaluru.

Organized by Team Mangalore, a passionate group of kite enthusiasts, the festival aims to celebrate the vibrant cultural heritage of Dakshina Kannada. The curtain-raiser ceremony was held on January 10, 2026, in Mangaluru, and was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah and Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Shri D. K. Shivakumar.

The event was also attended by prominent dignitaries including Shri H.K. Patil, Tourism Minister of Karnataka; Shri U.T. Khadar, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly; Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for Health & Family Welfare; Smt. Laxmi Hebbalkar, Udupi District In-charge Minister; Shri Darshan H.V., IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada; Sri Gurme Suresh Shetty, MLA of Kapu Assembly Constituency; and Shri Ivan D’Souza, MLC.

The festival will feature a grand lineup of 60 kite flyers from India and abroad, promising a spectacular display of tradition, creativity, and international camaraderie, reflecting the true spirit of Tulunadu.