In Pakistan all seasons have
their own festivities, each has a different flavour. Pakistan shares all it’s
festivities with its neighbouring countries like India. Traditionally it is said
that Basant is celebrated to bid farewell to the winter season and to announce
the arrival of spring season. Basant is celebrated in a big way in Pakistan and
has become a very powerful traditional festival of Pakistan. It’s a kite-flying
festival which had originated from India and now it’s famous across Pakistan
especially in the Punjab province. In Lahore Basant is celebrated in the month
of February usually around 20th of February. Lahorians prepare for the big event
with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal. They start the preparation for the festival
very early.
In March, Basant is celebrated in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, twin cities of
Pakistan. The same is the scene here and same is the passion. In whatever city
this fascinating festival is celebrated people love to come and enjoy. Hotels
are packed to capacity and quite often it happens that people don’t even find a
room to stay.
The girls and boys wearing yellow dresses and dancing with the beat of Dhole
that’s called Bhangra, the sky is covered with all kind of beautiful kites large
and small that decorates the sky in a glorious and pleasant way. It looked that
a painter has painted the sky with beautiful colours. Dresses of women on this
occasion are like “Chooridar” pajamas, Saris, Jeans, Trousers and Garrars in
different yellow shades. Children make different cartoon on their faces. Roof of
hotels, buildings etc. are reserved one month ago or more. Places and parks are
decorated with different colorful tents. Special arrangement of food like
‘Chicken Tikkas’, ‘Buffe’, ‘Seikh Kabab’, ‘halim’ and other typical specialties
with green tea are made available to serve.
Now a day’s people are very excited towards this festival. Although the Pakistan
government has banned to fly kites due to some horrible incidents but still
people think that it’s a way to celebrate their happiness with others. But the
decision is upon us whether we want our happiness or other sorrows of lost of
lives that occurs due to this festival.