AHMEDABAD: The third toy train, a butterfly park and the rock show by students are the added attraction of the annual Kankaria Carnival this year.
The seven-day carnival kicked off on Tuesday evening amid fanfare and fireworks. More than one lakh visitors thronged the renovated lakefront to be part of the revelry.
Apart from the routine ones, there are activities like parasailing, jet skiing, zipping, rock climbing and others for the visitors. The AMC decided to chug off the third Atal Express looking at the good response to the other two toy trains.
Hours before chief minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the carninal, people in large number thronged the lake. For many, it has become an annual ritual to visit the lakefront during the carnival. "Carnivals are always fun to be at as so much activity such as dance and drama, adventure and water sports and laser shows and firework can be experienced at a single venue. My family was part of all four earlier carnivals and we've seen the lakefront getting developed in front of our eyes. Today, it is one tourist destination that we never fail to mention to our guests," said Shenal Patel a resident Ankur.
Similarly Sheila Shah who regularly comes for the carnivals says, "My mother is seventy years old but she was so curious about the train that she insisted that she wanted to ride on it so I have got her here." Shah mother could hardly walk and was moving in the wheel chair. Two people were required to make her take a seat in the train, but she did enjoy the ride.
The new feature this time is the rock show this time. The show will be performed by students of city schools, colleges and private institutes.
"While the lake attracts more than 7,000 visitors on a routine basis, the carnival is always special as the footfall rises up to over one lakh during these seven days. Thus, we've taken care to make the venue fit to its glory," said a senior AMC official.
"We were all engaged in adventure sports and other activities and we suddenly heard loud drums being played. It was the Carnival Parade that was coming in. All were excited and curious to see what happened", said Rashid Shaikh. The incoming of the Parade literally grabbed everybody's attention. The entire area was reverberating with the traditional beats of 'dhol'.
Kankaria is kids' capital: Modi
Ahmedabad: In his first public appearance after assembly polls, chief minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of the state for electing BJP to power once again. He said that in all development work to the tune of Rs 125 crore has been initiated at Kankaria. He said the Kankaria lake zone is shaping out to be the kids' capital. He laid foundation stones for several projects on Tuesday. tnn
