Finally, there has been an official announcement by the Parks & Horticulture Society (PHA) of Lahore regarding the festival of Spring celebrations (Jashan-e-Baharan) and Basant.
According to the government department responsible for major events, outdoor decorations and sponsorships, that is PHA, Jashan-e-Baharan will be celebrated from March 01, 2008 to March 31, 2008 while the much awaited festival of kites; Basant will be held on March 16, 2008.
Update: PHA announces Basant & Jashan-e-Baharan Dates
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Loosely confirmed as February 24, 2008, pushing the event’s celebration after elections (only if held).
The Basant and Jashan-e-Baharan (Celebrations of the Spring) festitivities are taking off in the city starting from today. These include a number of traditional cultral events with Jillani Park (Race Course Park) being the epicenter of it all.
Festival of the Kites
Source: Things Asian
The month-long (February 22 - March 23) festival will include a colorful display of lights and boats on parts of the Canal that runs through the city and on the Mall as well as an open fun fair and musical gala at the Race Course Park. In addition to all this, there will be mushairas, animal and pet shows, food, music, band performances, a book-fair and parades at different venues across the city.
A decorated tree in the Jillani Park (Race Course Park)
Basant, although an integral part of the Jashn-e-Baharan festivities, is being kept aside as a separate two-day-only event for which security and law-watch has been substantially tightened. Police is on search for possible violaters of ban on metal-twine usage and other related offences.
So, gear up for a festive mood while keeping a strict eye on your neighborhood for any outlawed activities… And, yes, did I mention that Lahore Police has announced a cash reward of Rs.5000 for those who report any violation of laws on kite-flying…
The Government of Punjab has conditionally lifted the one-year-long ban on kite-flying and the festival of colors; Basant, atleast temporarily. Under the new proposal:
- metal-reinforced and glass-coated strings are banned
- only cotton strings up to a certain thickness are allowed
- kites larger than 2×2 feet, that require a thicker string, are prohibited
- kite strings can only be coated with wheat-flour glue, dye and soft, finely-ground glass.
It was good news for many while for many others, it was not. This decision of the Government of Punjab was soon followed by the announcement of Basant festival on February 25th by the locals. However, all was not rosy when Supreme Court interfered and demanded a report from the Punjab Government over its decision to lift the ban.
What do you guys think; is it the Government that is responsible for not being able to control the lethal trade of manufacturing metal strings in the city or is it the people who have no regard for innocent lives?? And what about Basant? Should it be banned or not?
“In the spirit of all the holiday gift giving that will be taking place over the next couple of months, all the Metroblogging cities are giving 7 gifts to the world throughout the week of NOV 26th - DEC 2. Lahore comes up with its 2nd Gift to the World.”
The second most important aspect of Lahore’s cultural character is the colorful event of Basant; the Kite-flying festival in spring.
View of Lahore on Basant Night
Basant is a true Lahori celebration of colors, flowers, kites, fragrances, of love & of a sweet youthful time called Spring. Each March brings the colorful blooming of Lahore, the city of Gardens.
Whole of the city is decorated with colorful sponsor banners and lights all along the canal, the Mall Road and Main Boulevard, Gulberg. All major landmarks are lit up to show grandeur of Lahore’s rich architecture and its Mughal & British Colonial heritage.
Queen Noor Jehan’s brother, Asif Jah’s Haveli; all lit up for Basant
Friends and family gather at common places to celebrate reunions and party for most of the Basant Night. Starting from the sunset, flood lights are lit up all over the city’s skyline as people start off with white-kite flying. BarBQs are served with traditional Lahori dishes as the cries of “Bo Katas” & Dhol (traditional drums) echo throughout the next day.
Friends & Family celebrate Basant Source: Rehan Fazal’s Flickr
People from different cultures and countries are welcomed by their hosts. Many foreign dignitaries, diplomats from the federal capital, Islamabad are invited over to different Basant events in Lahore.
(more…)
McDonald’s celebrated Basant & Spring festival by decorating the interiors of their restaurants with kites & colors.
Basant Bahar Hai; Sanu McDonald’s Naal Pyaar Hai
The Basant Night at Royal Palm Golf & Country Club was wholly sponsored by Warid Telecom. Free Warid Prepaid connections were attached to each Invitation card.
The Call put up a lively rather than a live performance. Most of the songs were from thier most recent ‘Jilawatan’ album. I liked “Sub Bhula Kay” the most.
Royal Palm Golf & Country Club hosted a fabulous Basant Night yesterday. The function was attended by several high-profile dignitaries and foreigner guests.
The setting was at Royal Palm’s Golf practice Range.
The red carpet pathway was illuminated with lights and red salt-lamps.
Round tables were set up for a gathering of upto 2,000 people.
Alongwith great food, the event boasted of live performances by The Call, Humaira Arshad, Jawad Ahmad & Sophia; the “Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Legaya” girl, that had come all the way from Mumbai.
Looks like there will be no basant and ‘bo kata’ this year. Government of Punjab today imposed a fresh ban on kite flying. The latest ban came after Chief Minister met with parents of two little kids who were killed the other day (kite string cut their throats). Staying away from the debate that basant should be celebrated or not, to me this is a strange decision because of timing. What exactly is the point in imposing a ban just one day before basant? Keeping in mind that people have made all sorts of arrangements including purchase of expansive door aur patange (kites and strings) and even there are large number of foreigners in lahore who have especially come to see basant. Now it would be interesting to see how law enforcement agencies actually enforce this ban (I doubt they can).
Source: Reuters
Basant over the years has become totally different from what it used to be 5 or 10 years ago. There used to be isolated incidents where people got themselves injured or killed falling from roofs or on roads trying to catch kites. But never had we heard so many people, especially children, getting killed like we have been seeing during last 2-3 years. Problem is definitely NOT the basant festival itself but the way we have started celebrating it.
I am all for basant (though I have my reservations about this year only because of earthquake). Otherwise Basant is a beautiful, colorful and cultural festival of lahore. Its a festival of common man, festival of people living in the old city who do not have many choices of healthy sports activities. For others, its probably a social event where they can show-off and celebrate culture which they dont necessarily have any clue about. Having said all that, I would also want to ensure that we dont risk other people’s lives just because we want to have fun. How can we keep the delicate balance?
In any case, its difficult to imagine my beloved Lahore without Basant.
Seems like a few people have already celebrated Basant. No surprise though as there was so much confusion even a day before first speculated Basant date, which later on was changed to 12th March. I wonder why Basant this time seems a bit quiet; I could only see Coca Cola doing some Basant advertisement campaign. Where are others? Are we all subdued because of all EQ talk? I wonder.
