NO Basant says Punjab govt

[shravan]

NO Basant says Punjab govt

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Monday categorically stated that the province will not celebrate Basant or any other cultural activity which poses a potential threat to human life. Replying to a point of order during the Punjab Assembly (PA) session, Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Minister Kamran Michael informed the PA that the provincial government could not permit the festival of Basant to take place, as kite flying posed a serious threat to human life. Michael said that despite the ban on the use of “dangerous kite-strings”, the people of Punjab do not refrain from using banned varieties of kite-strings during the annual kite-flying event, which has resulted in the loss of several lives over the years. In light of the numerous reported deaths due to kite flying, the government would continue its ban on kite flying on Basant, he added. Terming the government ban on Basant the “right decision”, Michael said the government lifted the ban for just one night last year, which resulted in a number of deaths in several parts of the city.

Bold decision: Earlier, on a point of order, Pakistan People Party MPA Hassan Murtaza opposed the ban on Basant festivities, saying that the government should take a “bold” decision by lifting the ban in order to ensure that the centuries-old cultural activity remains a part of Punjab’s heritage. Unfortunately, Basant has always been looked down upon as a “Hindu festival”, the MPA said. MPA Sheikh Allauddin voiced support for the government ban, saying that Basant was a “Hindu festival”. According to an opinion poll conducted last year, about 75 percent of Lahoris favoured celebrating the kite flying festival to mark the arrival of spring.

[shravan]

"Only festival where people come together"

The News on Sunday: How can we make basant safe?

Yousuf Salahuddin: To start with, you have to ban motorcycles from Saturday night to Sunday evening because a majority of accidental deaths have been of motorcyclists.

Secondly, there are two companies manufacturing these dangerous strings. The issue is not kite-flying or celebrating the festival; it’s about the deadly string. Children are buying these strings regardless of the danger these put their lives in. So, the manufacturers should be held accountable.

Thirdly, aerial firing has to be stopped. This was done during Shabhaz Sharif’s last term. If he gives the stick to the police, this can be regulated.

TNS: What does basant mean for Pakistan and Lahore?

YS: For Lahore, basant means an amazing boost to the economy and the placing of Lahore onto the cultural map of the world. India has been trying to copy basant for years. The truth is that basant is in the blood of every Lahori. This is one festival where the rich and the poor interact. They do not interact even on eid. The elite class offers eid prayers at FC College or Aitchison College mosque while the general population goes to other mosques. Basant is the only festival which the rich and poor celebrate together.

This is a festival of the poor. Look at how much misery we are going through; drugs are common; children are being picked up from streets; law and order is non-existent. In this scenario, mothers feel safe when their children stay at home. Flying kites at least keeps them in the house. Most of all basant does not cost anyone anything. Even if you don’t fly kites, the enjoyment in just being part of the fun on the rooftops is simply amazing. It is this beauty that we can sell to the world.

TNS: How can basant benefit the economy of Lahore and Pakistan?

YS: It’s actually costing the government nothing and the government can make money. The Punjab government should be announcing basant a year in advance so that people all over the world can make plans. The ban on basant is a great cultural loss for Lahore and Pakistan. Basant is the best event to show to the world the real face of Pakistan. The Punjab government, the federal government and the inept Tourism Department need to stop wasting public money and invest in preparations for a proper basant.

The Punjab government would have to, in its first year, invite hundred journalists from different parts of the world. They should organise a basant for them. If we plan it carefully it will become the Mardi Gras of Pakistan. If the government helps plan it, I can easily get people like Madonna and all the top stars. Imagine Madonna coming to Pakistan for basant. This will attract major media coverage around the world.

The things we can sell from Pakistan are basant and Sufi music. Any foreigner that will visit Pakistan during these two days will go back saluting Pakistan.

TNS: Where did you get the idea of promoting basant?

YS: For me the idea of a properly organised basant festival came when the Duke of Somerset and his wife came for basant at my place once. Prior to that, I would never have a big basant; it was a day usually enjoyed with my family. I started celebrating it on a relatively larger scale and started inviting friends from Pakistan and abroad after their visit.

TNS: Basant is also termed as an anti-Islamic or Hindu event. How do you respond to this criticism?

YS: Let us admit the fact that we were all Hindus several generations ago and that the people became Muslims through the ways of the Sufis and that’s how Islam came to the subcontinent. When our ancestors converted to Islam, the things that were not clashing with the basic principles of Islam were retained. If anyone insists that the wahabi practices which are practiced in Saudi Arabia should be implemented then that’s not going to happen. Allama Iqbal used to celebrate basant.

[Shattered]

what is basant anyways 0_o?

[pak-yes]

First off all the thread starter has not good intentions.This thread has been made for troll.Hindu festival????

Basant has been banned due to loss of Human Lifes.

And this Ban has been going for 4-5 years.Before that it was celebrated and 30-35 people were killed every year.

[Bas_tum_Pak]

Nice move .. to ban Basant..
Plenty of people loss their lives every year. Life is more important than any entertainment.

[shravan]

Originally Posted by pak-yes

First off all the thread starter has not good intentions.This thread has been made for troll.Hindu festival????
.

Please write a letter to Daily Times & Jung.

[Asim Aquil]

No Basant? Rebellion!!!!!!!

Hindu Festival? Whoever is saying that is wrong. This festival belongs to Lahore! Maybe it was started by a religion, but Lahore put it on the map.

[Zaki]

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

No Basant? Rebellion!!!!!!!

Hindu Festival? Whoever is saying that is wrong. This festival belongs to Lahore! Maybe it was started by a religion, but Lahore put it on the map.

well the background of the basant is scary ............ the story is very long but wikipedia has written a very constructive article in this regard

Another historic account is given in the book "Punjab Under the Later Mughals." According to this book, when Zakariya Khan (1707-1759) was the governor of Punjab, a Hindu of Sialkot, by the name of Haqeeqat Rai Bakhmal Puri spoke words of disrespect for the Prophet Muhammad and his daughter Fatima due to teasing by Muslim boys. He was arrested and sent to Lahore to await trial. The court, gave him capital punishment. The Hindu population was stirred to request Zakariya Khan to lift the death sentence given to Haqeeqat Rai but he did not accede to their request. Eventually the death penalty was carried out and the entire Hindu population went into mourning.

As a tribute to the memory of this child, a prosperous Hindu, Kalu Ram initiated the Basant 'mela' in (Marrhi) Kot Khwaja Saeed (Khoje Shahi) in Lahore. (This place is now known as Baway di marrhi.) It is the last stop on the route of Wagon no. 60 from Bhati Gate. Dr. B.S. Nijjar states on Page no. 279 of his book that the Basant 'mela' is celebrated in memory of Hakeekat Rai.

Source: Vasanta (Ritu) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Zaki]

Originally Posted by Shattered

what is basant anyways 0_o?

Basant is a kites festival







Ke dil howa bo-kaata

[Asim Aquil]

Originally Posted by Mr X

well the background of the basant is scary ............ the story is very long but wikipedia has written a very constructive article in this regard


Source: Vasanta (Ritu) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thats all some unsubstantiated Raam kahani man, Hindus (mainly Punjab) and then later Indian farmers in general always celebrated Basant as the onset of Spring - Rain fall - harvest, good winds - Kites fly. Simple.

Later on it became a sport due to all the techniques of kite flying. Most probably Dubai will become the next biggest Basant Spot. No harvest here, but mighty strong winds and large Lahori population

[Zaki]

Originally Posted by Asim Aquil

Thats all some unsubstantiated Raam kahani man, Hindus (mainly Punjab) and then later Indian farmers in general always celebrated Basant as the onset of Spring - Rain fall - harvest, good winds - Kites fly. Simple.

Later on it became a sport due to all the techniques of kite flying. Most probably Dubai will become the next biggest Basant Spot. No harvest here, but mighty strong winds and large Lahori population

yes Dubai can be the biggest Basant spot in the whole world. I am sure even the English peoples may go and participate in this festival if held in Dubai.

I am planning to visit dubai since last 3 years..... magar time hi nahi milta

[ali26300]

this is good decision

[Al-zakir]

While decesion is good to prevent death but I doubt if people will obey the ban.

[Zaki]

Originally Posted by Al-zakir

While decesion is good to prevent death but I doubt if people will obey the ban.

they put ban every year........ before 1 week of basant time...... they lift the ban...... everybody celeberate basant...... they ban again

I have been hearing this ban since last couple of years but whenever basant time reaches they lift it........ if they did not lift the ban...... nobody follows this law anyway they still celeberate bassant as usual

[AliFarooq]

Originally Posted by Mr X

they put ban every year........ before 1 week of basant time...... they lift the ban...... everybody celeberate basant...... they ban again

I have been hearing this ban since last couple of years but whenever basant time reaches they lift it........ if they did not lift the ban...... nobody follows this law anyway they still celeberate bassant as usual

ya last 2 years they banned it, but a few days before they lifted the ban, from some areas.

Basant at night is amazingggg, sky filled with white kites, food, shor sharaba.

Lot of famous people come from around the world to celebrate basant in lahore.