Indiabulez: minor updated layout to improve readability and added references

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minor updated layout to improve readability and added references

80.2.6.163 at 16:44, 18 May 2024

2024-05-18T16:44:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:14, 18 May 2024
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	[[Category:Kite festivals]]		[[Category:Kite festivals]]
	[[Category:Cultural festivals in India]]		[[Category:Cultural festivals in India]]
			[[Category:Territorial symbols of Delhi (India)]]
	[[Category:Cultural festivals in Pakistan]]		[[Category:Cultural festivals in Pakistan]]
	[[Category:Sports festivals in India]]		[[Category:Sports festivals in India]]
	[[Category:Winter events in Pakistan]]		[[Category:Winter events in Pakistan]]

>PohranicniStraze: sp

2021-04-03T06:29:10Z

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{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Basant
|image = Basant culture.jpg|
|type = Seasonal
|official_name = Basant Panchami
|observedby = All faiths
|litcolor = Yellow
|longtype =
|significance =
|begins =
|month = January / February
|date = [[Magha (month)|Magha]] [[Paksha|Shukla]] [[Panchami]]
|date2016 = 13 February 2016 [[Punjab region]] between Jan-Feb
|date2017 = 1 February 2017 [[Punjab region]] between Jan-Feb
|celebrations =
|observances = Kite flying. Eating sweet dishes. Decorating homes with yellow flowers.
}}

'''Basant''' is a spring time kite flying event during the [[Basant Panchami]] festival in the [[Indian Subcontinent]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/Chapter%203.htm |title=Chapter iii |publisher=Punjabrevenue.nic.in |year=1930 |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603160416/http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/Chapter%203.htm |archive-date=2016-06-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 (month)|Magha]] (in late January or early February) marking the start of [[spring (season)|spring]]. However, people also observe the celebration on other times during the Spring season. The festival is associated with Sufi saints and shrines across India and Pakistan.

==Central/Majha Punjab==
{{See also|Majha}}
[[File:Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Emperor of the Sikh Empire.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]
[[File:Queen of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 'Moran Sarkar'.jpg|thumb|100px|right|Queen of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, 'Moran Sarkar]]
[[Amritsar]], [[Lahore]], and [[Kasur]] are the traditional areas where kite flying festivals are held.<ref name="Kaul2001">{{cite book|first=Suvir|last=Kaul|title=The Partitions of Memory: The Afterlife of the Division of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7dNbD9i1vPkC&pg=PA195&dq=lahore++basant|year=2001|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=0-253-21566-8|page=195}}</ref> 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
<ref name="Mirepoix1967">{{cite book|first=Camille|last=Mirepoix|title=Now Pakistan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zwpMGA0HH_sC&dq=maharaja+ranjit+singh+introduced+kite+flying+on+basant+panchami|year=1967|publisher=Grenich|page=142}}</ref> century which included holding fairs at [[Sufi]] shrines.<ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-5-38123-Festival-of-Lights-kicks-off Ansari, Shahab (26 March 2011) The News Festival of Lights kicks off]</ref> Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his queen Moran would dress in yellow and fly kites on Basant.<ref>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 [https://books.google.com/books?id=19MPxs-mvTMC&dq=ranjit+singh+and+moran+basant+kites p. 96]</ref> 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]].<ref name="Desai2010">{{cite book|first=Nikita|last=Desai|title=A Different Freedom: Kite Flying in Western India; Culture and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VsaBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA37&dq=kite%20flying%20jaipur%20royal%20patronage|date=9 June 2010|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-4438-2310-4|page=37}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xGJRAAAAYAAJ&dq=Basant,+celebrated+during+Ranjit+Singh%27s+times The Sikh Courier International, Volumes 33-37]</ref> Other traditions of the Basant in Lahore included women swaying on swings and singing.<ref>[https://lahorenama.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/the-history-of-basant/ Rumi, Raza (10.03.2009) The history of Basant. Lahore Nama]</ref>

==Malwa, Punjab, India==
The festival of Basant is celebrated across [[Malwa, Punjab]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100120/bathinda.htm#1 |title=Kite fliers ready to soar on Basant Panchami
|first=Rajay |last=Deep |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |date=19 January 2010 |access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://astrobix.com/festivals_of_india/basant_panchami/basant_mela.aspx Basant Mela 2015]</ref>

==Punjab, Pakistan==
[[File:Basant kite.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Basant kite]]
[[File:Fastval in pakistan.jpg|thumb|150px|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.<ref name="autogenerated1">The Sikh World: An Encyclopedia Survey of Sikh Religion and Culture: Ramesh Chander Dogra and Urmila Dogra; {{ISBN|81-7476-443-7}}</ref> 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<ref>''Punjabiat: The Cultural Heritage and Ethos of the People of Punjab'': Jasbir Singh Khurana</ref> and holding fairs. This includes the [[Pothohar Plateau]] where Basant is celebrated in Ralwalpindi, Pakistan with the flying of kites.<ref>Aamir Yasin and Mohammad Asghar (14.03.2015) Pindi says ‘Bo Kata’ to kite-flying ban [http://www.dawn.com/news/1169502/pindi-says-bo-kata-to-kite-flying-ban]</ref> 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.<ref>[https://tribune.com.pk/story/2152463/1-kite-fliers-flout-ban/ The Express Tribune (08.02.2020)Kite fliers flout ban]</ref> People also light fireworks and play loud music.<ref>Muhammad Irfan Urdupoint (22.02.2020) Kite Flying, Aerial Firing Were Order Of Day During Basant, Police Remain Silent Spectator.[https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kite-flying-aerial-firing-were-order-of-day-843894.html]</ref>

===Ban===
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 due to an increasing number of deaths and serious injuries. These had various causes related to the festival, including:
{{bulleted list |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
{{bulleted list |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<ref>DND.com (02.01.2017) Basant to be celebrated in Lahore after security clearance: Minister [http://www.dnd.com.pk/basant-to-be-celebrated-in-lahore-after-security-clearance-minister/123321]</ref> that the ban is to be lifted, however as of 2019 this has not happened.<ref>[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/02/07/punjab-govt-says-no-to-basant-festival/ PT (07.02.2017) Punjab govt says ‘NO’ to Basant festival]</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/16-Feb-2004/editorial-can-t-we-have-a-nice-time|title=EDITORIAL: Can't we have a nice time?|date=2004-02-16|newspaper=Daily Times|access-date=2017-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103231536/http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/16-Feb-2004/editorial-can-t-we-have-a-nice-time|archive-date=2014-11-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Rakhi Vijan at the Launch of TV serial 'Madhubala' (1).jpg|Yellow outfits are worn on Basant (Rakhi Vijan)
File:Dhotis in Delhi.jpg|Yellow Dhotis
File:Punjabi Mustard Flowers.JPG|Punjabi Mustard Flowers
File:Grain saffron rice.jpg|Grain saffron rice
File:Gajar Halwa (Carrot fudge).jpg|Gajar Halwa (Carrot fudge)
File:Laddoo (4926770982).jpg|Laddoo
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Saraswati Puja]]
* [[Vasanta (Ritu)]]
* [[Vasant]]
* [[Festivals of Lahore]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://fp.brecorder.com/2005/02/20050206173530/ Damages of Basant]
*[https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/419471-decision-on-basant-in-two-weeks-lhc-told Decision on Basant in two weeks, LHC told]
*[https://www.deccanherald.com/police-arrests-1000-in-pakistan-for-flying-kites-51452.html Police arrests 1000 in Pakistan for flying kites ]
*[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/11-dead-at-pakistani-kite-festival/ 11 Dead At Pakistani Kite Festival ]
*[https://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/kiteflying.htm Kite Flying in Lahore! ]
*[https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/4290/basant-is-banned-for-the-right-reasons/ Basant is banned for the right reasons ]

{{Punjab, India}}
{{Punjabi fairs and festivals}}
{{Punjabi festivals}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Punjabi festivals| ]]
[[Category:Festivals in Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Kite festivals]]
[[Category:Cultural festivals in India]]
[[Category:Cultural festivals in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Sports festivals in India]]
[[Category:Winter events in Pakistan]]

Basant (festival) - Revision history

Indiabulez: minor updated layout to improve readability and added references

80.2.6.163 at 16:44, 18 May 2024

>PohranicniStraze: sp