After nearly two decades, the Punjab government’s decision to allow Basant celebrations and declare local holidays has sparked excitement among the public. Reports suggest that not only residents from across the country but also Pakistanis living abroad are traveling to Lahore to participate in the celebrations. According to media reports, kites and strings worth approximately 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 seasons. According to this system, Vasant (spring) is referred to as Ritu Raj (King of the Seasons), symbolizing the return of life and the awakening of the earth. It also marks the season for sowing seeds, preparing for new crops and listening to the cheerful chirping of birds.
In the ancient Rig Veda, Vasant is described as a joyful and sacred phase of natural transformation. In the Hindu Vikrami calendar, Basant’s central day 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, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, art and music.
Basant, in my opinion, is one of the prominent festivals in our region, which over time developed in Snent into a vibrant socio-cultural celebration. Historically, it enjoyed royal patronage in the Delhi Sultanate. It is said that Amir Khusrau, noted Indo-Persian Sufi singer, musician, court poet and scholar, celebrated Basant with yellow clothes, yellow flowers and Sufi melodies to please Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who symbolizes 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. Flying kites from the roofs of the royal palace to welcome spring later spread among the people.
During British rule, Basant continued to be celebrated with enthusiasm in various cities including Lahore, Delhi and Agra. During the festival, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Parsis all dressed in yellow and celebrated together. Rooftops were filled with music and food, and guests traveled from far and wide to join in the festivities. Even after Partition, Basant continued to be celebrated with fervor as a symbol of religious harmony, social cohesion and collective joy.
The people of Lahore, known as Zinda Dilan-e-Lahore, have always been at the forefront of the Basant celebrations. In areas like 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, certain anti-social elements stained this peaceful festival with innocent blood. The use of metallic and chemically treated strings caused serious injuries, especially to motorcyclists. Such tragedies were the result of irresponsible practices that eventually forced the government to impose a complete ban on Basant.
Some extremist voices today oppose Basant by trying to give it a purely religious label. They overlook the fact that Basant and kite flying have never been reserved for any single religion or sect in our region. Although the concept of Vasant appeared in the ancient Vedic era, it was more cosmic and natural. Spring carries a universal message of hope, not for followers of a particular faith, but for all of humanity. This universal foundation transformed Basant into an invaluable element of the subcontinent’s shared culture that nurtured 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 spread their hate agenda. If successful, Lahore can emerge not only as the cultural capital of Pakistan, but also as a cultural hub for the entire region. More importantly, Basant can help project the soft image of our beloved country as a peace-loving and people-friendly nation on the global stage.
The author is a member of the National Assembly and the Chief Patron of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pakinomist.tv’s editorial policy.
Originally published in The News
