Basant is a spring time kite flying event during the Basant Panchami festival in the Punjab.[1] It falls on Basant, also called Basant Panchami. According to the Punjabi calendar it is held on the fifth day of lunar month of Magha (in late January or early February) marking the start of spring.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh holding court outside near the Golden Temple in Amritsar with everyone dressed in Basant (yellow)Queen of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 'Moran Sarkar
Amritsar, Lahore, and Kasur are the traditional areas where kite flying festivals are held.[2] A popular Basant Mela is held in Lahore (see Festivals of Lahore). However, the festival has also been traditionally celebrated in areas such as Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gurdaspur.
Historically, Maharaja Ranjit Singh held an annual Basant fair and introduced kite flying as a regular feature of the fairs held during the 19th [3] century which included holding fairs at Sufi shrines.[4] Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his queen Moran would dress in yellow and fly kites on Basant.[5] The association of kite flying with Basant soon became a Punjabi tradition with the centre in Lahore which remains the regional hub of the festival throughout the Punjab region.[6] Indeed, Maharaja Ranjit Singh held a darbar or court in Lahore on Basant which lasted ten days during which time soldiers would dress in yellow and show their military prowess.[7] Other traditions of the Basant in Lahore included women swaying on swings and singing.[8]
Malwa, Punjab, Indiaedit
The festival of Basant is celebrated across Malwa, Punjab[9] where people organize gatherings to fly kites. In areas such as Firozpur, children generally fly kites to mark the auspicious occasion. A large fair is organised on the day of Basant Panchmi in the Shiva temple of Bansari and Gudri which is located in Dhuri, Sangrur district. The fair includes swings, rides and food.[10]
Punjab, Pakistanedit
Basant kiteFestival in Pakistan
In North India, and in the Punjab province of Pakistan, Basant is considered to be a seasonal festival and is celebrated as a spring festival of kites.[11] The festival marks the commencement of the spring season. In the Punjab region (including the Punjab province of Pakistan), Basant Panchami has been a long established tradition of flying kites[12] and holding fairs. This includes the Pothohar Plateau where Basant is celebrated in Ralwalpindi, Pakistan with the flying of kites.[13] Despite the ban on flying kites, kite enthusiasts still continue to celebrate the festival. According to The Express Tribune "in spite of a ban, kites of all sorts, spindles, twines are available freely in the old city area" of Rawalpindi in 2020.[14] People also light fireworks and play loud music.[15]
Banedit
While the date of Basant Panchami is set by a traditional Hindu calendar, the date of the Basant kite festival in Lahore, Pakistan until 2007 was determined by the authorities, always on a Sunday and usually at the end of February or the beginning of March. In 2007, the festival was banned, primarily because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries.[16] These had various causes related to the festival, including:
Bullets and tracer bullets fired during celebratory gunfire
Dangerous types of kite strings, such as metal wire, or strings coated in ground glass or metal filings
Electrocutions caused by flying metal wire kites near power lines
Electrocutions caused by people touching power lines while trying to retrieve kites
Falls from rooftops related to flying or trying to retrieve kites
Another reason cited for the ban was the cost to the electricity power transmission system related to
Shortcircuits from metal kite wires touching power lines
Costs incurred from switching off the power grid to prevent short circuits
It has been widely reported in Pakistan since 2017[17] that the ban is to be lifted, however as of 2019 this has not happened.[18] In 2004, Nawa-i-Waqt, a Pakistani daily opposed Basant Panchami celebrations in Pakistan, arguing that the festival celebrated Haqiqat Rai's insult of Muhammad.[19]
^. Punjabrevenue.nic.in. 1930. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
^Kaul, Suvir (2001). The Partitions of Memory: The Afterlife of the Division of India. Indiana University Press. p. 195. ISBN0-253-21566-8.
^Mirepoix, Camille (1967). Now Pakistan. Grenich. p. 142.
^Ansari, Shahab (26 March 2011) The News Festival of Lights kicks off
^Hasan, Masudul. Unique Women of the World: Being Unique Stories of the Sidelights of the Lives, Loves, and Mysteries of Famous Women of All Times, All the World Over p. 96
^Desai, Nikita (9 June 2010). A Different Freedom: Kite Flying in Western India; Culture and Tradition. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 37. ISBN978-1-4438-2310-4.
^The Sikh World: An Encyclopedia Survey of Sikh Religion and Culture: Ramesh Chander Dogra and Urmila Dogra; ISBN81-7476-443-7
^Punjabiat: The Cultural Heritage and Ethos of the People of Punjab: Jasbir Singh Khurana
^Aamir Yasin and Mohammad Asghar (14.03.2015) Pindi says ‘Bo Kata’ to kite-flying ban [1]
^The Express Tribune (08.02.2020)Kite fliers flout ban
^Muhammad Irfan Urdupoint (22.02.2020) Kite Flying, Aerial Firing Were Order Of Day During Basant, Police Remain Silent Spectator.[2]
^"Kite makers fret over Basant decision". 6 February 2011.
^DND.com (02.01.2017) Basant to be celebrated in Lahore after security clearance: Minister [3]
^PT (07.02.2017) Punjab govt says ‘NO’ to Basant festival
^. Daily Times. 16 February 2004. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
January 01, 1970
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Basant is a spring time kite flying event during the Basant Panchami festival in the Punjab 1 It falls on Basant also called Basant Panchami According to the Punjabi calendar it is held on the fifth day of lunar month of Magha in late January or early February marking the start of spring BasantOfficial nameBasant PanchamiObserved byPunjabisLiturgical colorYellowObservancesKite flying Eating sweet dishes Decorating homes with yellow flowers DateMagha Shukla Panchami Contents 1 Central Majha Punjab 2 Malwa Punjab India 3 Punjab Pakistan 3 1 Ban 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 ReferencesCentral Majha Punjab editSee also Majha nbsp Maharaja Ranjit Singh holding court outside near the Golden Temple in Amritsar with everyone dressed in Basant yellow nbsp Queen of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Moran Sarkar Amritsar Lahore and Kasur are the traditional areas where kite flying festivals are held 2 A popular Basant Mela is held in Lahore see Festivals of Lahore However the festival has also been traditionally celebrated in areas such as Sialkot Gujranwala and Gurdaspur Historically Maharaja Ranjit Singh held an annual Basant fair and introduced kite flying as a regular feature of the fairs held during the 19th 3 century which included holding fairs at Sufi shrines 4 Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his queen Moran would dress in yellow and fly kites on Basant 5 The association of kite flying with Basant soon became a Punjabi tradition with the centre in Lahore which remains the regional hub of the festival throughout the Punjab region 6 Indeed Maharaja Ranjit Singh held a darbar or court in Lahore on Basant which lasted ten days during which time soldiers would dress in yellow and show their military prowess 7 Other traditions of the Basant in Lahore included women swaying on swings and singing 8 Malwa Punjab India editThe festival of Basant is celebrated across Malwa Punjab 9 where people organize gatherings to fly kites In areas such as Firozpur children generally fly kites to mark the auspicious occasion A large fair is organised on the day of Basant Panchmi in the Shiva temple of Bansari and Gudri which is located in Dhuri Sangrur district The fair includes swings rides and food 10 Punjab Pakistan edit nbsp Basant kite nbsp Festival in Pakistan In North India and in the Punjab province of Pakistan Basant is considered to be a seasonal festival and is celebrated as a spring festival of kites 11 The festival marks the commencement of the spring season In the Punjab region including the Punjab province of Pakistan Basant Panchami has been a long established tradition of flying kites 12 and holding fairs This includes the Pothohar Plateau where Basant is celebrated in Ralwalpindi Pakistan with the flying of kites 13 Despite the ban on flying kites kite enthusiasts still continue to celebrate the festival According to The Express Tribune in spite of a ban kites of all sorts spindles twines are available freely in the old city area of Rawalpindi in 2020 14 People also light fireworks and play loud music 15 Ban edit While the date of Basant Panchami is set by a traditional Hindu calendar the date of the Basant kite festival in Lahore Pakistan until 2007 was determined by the authorities always on a Sunday and usually at the end of February or the beginning of March In 2007 the festival was banned primarily because of an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries 16 These had various causes related to the festival including Bullets and tracer bullets fired during celebratory gunfireDangerous types of kite strings such as metal wire or strings coated in ground glass or metal filingsElectrocutions caused by flying metal wire kites near power linesElectrocutions caused by people touching power lines while trying to retrieve kitesFalls from rooftops related to flying or trying to retrieve kites Another reason cited for the ban was the cost to the electricity power transmission system related to Shortcircuits from metal kite wires touching power linesCosts incurred from switching off the power grid to prevent short circuits It has been widely reported in Pakistan since 2017 17 that the ban is to be lifted however as of 2019 this has not happened 18 In 2004 Nawa i Waqt a Pakistani daily opposed Basant Panchami celebrations in Pakistan arguing that the festival celebrated Haqiqat Rai s insult of Muhammad 19 Gallery edit nbsp Yellow outfits are worn on Basant Rakhi Vijan nbsp Punjabi Mustard Flowers nbsp Grain saffron rice nbsp Gajar Halwa Carrot Pudding nbsp LaddooSee also editSaraswati Puja Vasanta Ritu Vasant Festivals of LahoreReferences edit Chapter iii Punjabrevenue nic in 1930 Archived from the original on 3 June 2016 Retrieved 17 February 2014 Kaul Suvir 2001 The Partitions of Memory The Afterlife of the Division of India Indiana University Press p 195 ISBN 0 253 21566 8 Mirepoix Camille 1967 Now Pakistan Grenich p 142 Ansari Shahab 26 March 2011 The News Festival of Lights kicks off Hasan Masudul Unique Women of the World Being Unique Stories of the Sidelights of the Lives Loves and Mysteries of Famous Women of All Times All the World Over p 96 Desai Nikita 9 June 2010 A Different Freedom Kite Flying in Western India Culture and Tradition Cambridge Scholars Publishing p 37 ISBN 978 1 4438 2310 4 The Sikh Courier International Volumes 33 37 Rumi Raza 10 03 2009 The history of Basant Lahore Nama Deep Rajay 19 January 2010 Kite fliers ready to soar on Basant Panchami Tribuneindia com Retrieved 17 February 2014 Basant Mela 2015 The Sikh World An Encyclopedia Survey of Sikh Religion and Culture Ramesh Chander Dogra and Urmila Dogra ISBN 81 7476 443 7 Punjabiat The Cultural Heritage and Ethos of the People of Punjab Jasbir Singh Khurana Aamir Yasin and Mohammad Asghar 14 03 2015 Pindi says Bo Kata to kite flying ban 1 The Express Tribune 08 02 2020 Kite fliers flout ban Muhammad Irfan Urdupoint 22 02 2020 Kite Flying Aerial Firing Were Order Of Day During Basant Police Remain Silent Spectator 2 Kite makers fret over Basant decision 6 February 2011 DND com 02 01 2017 Basant to be celebrated in Lahore after security clearance Minister 3 PT 07 02 2017 Punjab govt says NO to Basant festival EDITORIAL Can t we have a nice time Daily Times 16 February 2004 Archived from the original on 3 November 2014 Retrieved 28 July 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basant festival amp oldid 1186912633, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
