After almost two decades, the Punjab government’s decision to allow Basant celebrations and declare local holidays has sparked public enthusiasm. Reports suggest that not only residents from across the country but also Pakistanis living abroad are traveling to Lahore to take part in the festivities. According to media reports, kites and strings worth around Rs 3.4 billion have already been sold in Lahore.
In ancient Hindu philosophy, the concept of Ritu Chakra is considered one of the most comprehensive and reliable frameworks for understanding the natural relationship between time and the seasons. According to this system, Vasant (spring) is called Ritu Raj (the king of seasons), symbolizing the return of life and the awakening of the earth. It also marks the season of sowing seeds, preparing for new harvests and listening to the joyful song of birds.
In the ancient Rig Veda, Vasant is described as a joyful and sacred phase of natural transformation. In the Hindu Vikrami calendar, the central day of Basant is Vasant Panchami, observed annually on the fifth day of the month of Magh, which usually falls in January or February according to the Gregorian calendar. This day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, deity of knowledge, wisdom, art and music.
Basant, in my opinion, is one of the most important festivals of our region which, over time, has transformed in the Snent into a vibrant socio-cultural celebration. Historically, it enjoyed royal patronage in the Delhi Sultanate. Amir Khusrau, a famous Indo-Persian Sufi singer, musician, court poet and scholar, is said to have celebrated Basant with yellow clothes, yellow flowers and Sufi melodies to please Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, symbolizing spiritual joy beyond religious boundaries.
Similarly, several Mughal emperors, including Akbar the Great, Jahangir and Shah Jahan, decorated their courts in yellow to mark the occasion. The kite flying from the roofs of the royal palaces to welcome spring then spread among the population.
During the British rule, Basant continued to be enthusiastically celebrated in various cities including Lahore, Delhi and Agra. During the festival, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Parsis dressed in yellow and celebrated together. The rooftops were filled with music and food and guests came from all over to join the festivities. Even after Partition, Basant continued to be celebrated with zeal as a symbol of religious harmony, social cohesion and collective joy.
The people of Lahore, known as Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore, have always remained at the forefront of Basant celebrations. In areas such as the Walled City, Anarkali, Shah Alami and around Data Darbar, Basant was never a one-day affair but rather a multi-day event.
Unfortunately, at the turn of the new century, some anti-social elements stained this peaceful festival with innocent blood. The use of metal and chemically treated ropes has caused serious losses, especially among motorcyclists. Such tragedies are a result of irresponsible practices that ultimately forced the government to impose a total ban on Basant.
Some extremist voices today oppose Basant by trying to give him a purely religious label. They overlook the fact that Basant and kite flying have never been the exclusive preserve of a single religion or sect in our region. Although the concept of Vasant appeared in ancient Vedic times, it was more cosmic and natural. Spring carries a universal message of hope, not for the followers of a particular belief, but for all humanity. This universal foundation transformed Basant into an invaluable part of the common culture of the subcontinent, nurturing tolerance, pluralism and interfaith harmony.
Today, we have a golden opportunity to responsibly revive Basant in its true historical, cultural and social context. Under no circumstances should anti-social elements be allowed to exploit the festival or propagate their hate agenda. If we succeed, Lahore can become not only the cultural capital of Pakistan, but also a cultural center for the entire region. Most importantly, Basant can help project the gentle image of our beloved country as a peace-loving and humanity-respecting nation on the global stage.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Hindu Council of Pakistan. He tweets/posts @RVankwani
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies of PK Press Club.tv.
Originally published in The News
