Twelve bright balloons take to the skies over the city of Pollachi in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The international hot air balloon festival is being held here for the 10th time. The weather is windy, but this is not a hindrance for the participants.
Hot Air Balloon Pilot:
“I’ve never been to India, it’s my first time here. So it’s something very special for me.”
Teams from eight countries participate in the festival – India, Brazil, USA, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Vietnam and Thailand. We began to prepare for the event a day in advance. The teams straightened the balloons and filled them with hot air.
In Pollaci, the festival takes place for three days. Prior to this, the event was hosted by Chennai, the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu. After flying to Pollachi, the teams will travel to the city of Madurai in the same state for another three days.
Tamil Nadu authorities are organising a hot air balloon festival to attract more Indian and foreign tourists to the state. But it’s also a family holiday. Concerts and other cultural events are held during the festival. And a play area is opened for children.
