Final Basant

Pros and Cons of Basant

PPROS ROS AAND ND CCONS OFONS OF BBASANTASANT

Submitted to: Submitted by:Mr. Mir Asghar Ali Khan Danish Khan

Roll No. 1706

Managerial Communication - 1 -


TABLE OF CONTENTS

S.no. TOPIC Page No.

1. Culture of Lahore……………………………………………………..4

2. Attractions of Basant..………………………………………………...7

3. The Preparations of Basant..……………………………….…..……...8

4. Kite Flying…………..….……………………………………….…….9

5. Basant by Night…..…………………………………………………..10

6. Other Attractions……….………………………………………….....10

7. Dark sides of Basant...……………………………………………….13

8. Hakeekat Rai. ………………………………………………………..13

9. Bring Sorrow……………………..…………………………………..14

10. Nightmare……………………………………………………………16

11. Conclusion……………………………………………………………21

12. References…………………………………………………………….22



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

14 December 2007

Mr. Mir Asghar Ali Khan

Instructor for Managerial Communication

Iqra University

Karachi

Dear Mr. Asghar:

I request you to accept this report on “Basant” that you assigned to me as final

project for fall semester 2007.

For the reason of providing you with a detailed and complete analysis of the topic,

both primary and secondary research was employed. This mostly included study of

printed materials and visit to the different websites. I would like to thank all those

who provided me their valuable help.

It has been a privilege to work on this assignment and I have put in my utmost

effort to prepare a comprehensive report on the topic. Should you have any query

concerning the report, I will be happy to discuss them with you.

Sincerely,

Danish Khan

MBA Evening



THE CULTURE OF LAHORE

Lahore's culture is unique. Known as the cultural capital or Heart of Pakistan, the

city has been the seat of the Mughal Empire and the Sikh Empire as well as the

capital of Punjab in Mahmud Ghaznavi's 11th century empire and in the British

Empire.

Lahore played an important role in Pakistani history, as it was in this city where

the independence declaration for Pakistan was made. The city was the only known

major city of the British Empire that would come into the new Muslims state. It

was the largest city in the newly formed Pakistan at the time of independence and

provided the easiest access to India, with its porous border near the Indian city of

only 30 miles (48 km) to the east. Large numbers of Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims

lived closely in Lahore in the, and the city suffered many revolts and

demonstrations, as well as bloodshed and mobs, at the time of independence.

Lahore was also wanted by the Sikhs since it used to be their capital before the

British. Initially, Lahore was planned to be made the capital of the newly formed

Pakistan, but the idea was dropped due to the city's close proximity to India;

Karachi was chosen instead. Lahore's culture -- its history, institutions, food,

clothing, films, music, fashion, and liberal community lifestyle -- attract people

from all over the country.

Lahore is an extremely festive city. The people of Lahore celebrate many festivals

and events throughout the year, blending Mughal, Western, and current trends. and

are celebrated. Many people decorate their houses and light candles to illuminate

the streets and houses; roads and businesses are lit for days during these public

holidays



Basant is a Punjabi festival marking the

coming of spring. Basant celebrations in

Pakistan are centered in Lahore and people

from all over the country as well as abroad

come to the city for the annual festivities.

Kite-flying competitions traditionally take

place on city rooftops during Basant. Courts

have banned the kite flying because of casualties and power installation losses.

The ban was lifted for three days in 2007, then immediately reimposed when 11

people were killed by celebratory gunfire, sharpened kite-strings, electrocution,

and falls related to the competition.

The Festival of Lamps, or Mela Chiraghan, is an important and popular event in

Lahore. This is celebrated at the same time as Basant, every spring on the last

Friday of March, outside the Shalimar Gardens.

The National Horse and Cattle Show is

one of the most famous annual

festivals, held in spring in the Fortress

Stadium. The week-long activities

include a livestock display, horse and

camel dances, tent pegging, colorful

folk dances from all regions of

Pakistan, mass-band displays, and tattoo shows in the evenings.

On August 14, the people of Pakistan celebrate the day Pakistan gained its

independence from the British Raj. There are lots of celebrations in Lahore, the

streets are full of people singing and dancing. Parades of the Pakistan Army and



Pakistan Air Force are held early in the morning. Concerts are held with many pop

and classical singers.

The World Performing Arts Festival is held every autumn (usually in November)

at the Alhambra cultural complex, a large venue consisting of several theatres and

amphitheatres. This ten-day festival consists of musicals, theatre, concerts, and

dance, solo, mime, and puppetry shows. The festival has an international character

with nearly 80 percent of the shows performed by international performers. On

average 15-20 different shows are performed every day of the festival



ATTRACTIONS OF BASANTBasant or jashan e baharaan, a festival of kites and colors, yellow being the main

color, is celebrated to welcome spring in Pakistan. It's a festival when people

rejoice, dress up in yellow, or the bright colors of spring and kite flying

competitions are held. Lahore is the city where this festival is celebrated with a lot

of zeal continuously for three days, whereas in the other cities like Karachi, basant

is held for one day only.

The wave of Basant festival starts from Lahore to Faisalabad, Gunjranwala and

onward. It has become national occasion of celebration and enjoy. There are

special live television and stage programs aired from different centers. There are

grand parties, musical programs, Punjabi Banghra and cultural activities taking

place in the whole city of Lahore. The walled city is famous for the extravagant in

the festivity of Basant. There are grand parties of Wine and Dine on the roofs of

walled city. The galaxy of famous film stars mostly celebrates the Basant on the

roofs of walled city, Avari towers, Pearl Continental and at the big bungalows of

Defence area.

Basant is one of the biggest festivals throughout the country and especially in the

city of Lahore. It is a enormous social event that does not revolve around a

religious ritual but around putting thousands of kites into the sky to welcome the

new spring season and use to fly their long awaited dreams of prosperity, security,

and furthermore, love and peace in shapes of different colorful kites.



THE PREPRATIONS

Preparations for basant starts a

month before the event. The singers

come up with catchy basant songs.

A reservation in hotels and

guesthouses becomes a nightmare,

as there are hardly rooms available.

It's a festival that attracts many

tourists from around the world.

Rooftops of important buildings and plazas also go on bookings for the kite-flying

event.

Men drape themselves in embroidered shalwar kameeze with matching ankle-

length scarves, little boys strut in three piece suits, and women coat their hands

with henna and stack their arms with bangles.

Families flock Basant or jashan-e-

baharaan, a festival of kites and colors,

yellow being the main color, is celebrated

on the rooftops of their residences to

enjoy. Kite flying is like a battle between

two teams. It's a time when kite makers

too celebrate due to the high demand of

kites throughout the country. Special drumbeaters are also hired for the event.

Kite flyers prepare themselves for the Final Battle on the day of Basant.

Preparations of all kinds start before the arrival of Basant. Purchase of Guddis,

Patangs, Gudhas and Doars are done before the final day. Purchase of herons, big



drams, and others important things are bought for the celebration this festival.

Guests and friends are invited to give the honour the occasion. Today many

professional and amateur kite-flyers are gearing up for their roofs battles with their

opponents and old rivals.

KITE FLYING Kites in Pakistan are made using thin

colored paper that is supported with

bamboo sticks. This makes them rise high

even in a zephyr. Some of the most

popular kinds of kites include Guddi,

Takla, Patang, Pari, Koop, Salonidar,

Pattidar, Charpana, and Lakhnowkat etc.

The string that is used in kite flying (manjha) is treated with finely powdered

broken glass pieces, which is a little dangerous if mishandled. The object is to fly

the kite in such a way that its string wraps around and cuts the string of the other

team's kite. Each fall of the kites is celebrated with drum beating and loud screams

of "bokata". The colors of basant are not only seen on land, but it seems as if the

whole sky celebrates and dances along with the kites of various colors, shapes and

sizes. This event does not even stop during nighttime. For the kite flyers the sky is

illuminated with lights using Powerful

electric torches, and also by tying candle-

lamp, "qindeel" to the kite string.

The streets of the Lahore are full with

people of all ages to catch the kites. The

race and chase is on and on throughout the

day of Basant. Many people with big sticks are stand in the every corner of the city

to catch the kites. A group of excited children ran wildly on pavements, their eyes



glued to the sky, following every movement of the kites. Basant celebrations have

been blown completely out of proportion. By the help of kites many young boys

use this festival to convey their feelings of hearts to their beloved.

BASANT BY NIGHTBasant at night is a new concept. It adds

new avenues of excitement. It creates new

but unique scenes of happiness, beauty and

craze. It is considered to be the peak of a

profligate and lavish cultural integration.

Nighttime kite flying in the walled old

quarter around the 16th century Badshahi

mosque and Lahore fort opens the festival. Ancient mughal palaces throw open

their doors for all-night parties to view the kites, illuminated by spotlights slashing

the sky.

Stars from the local 'Lollywood' film industry perform with classical Qawwali

musicians at parties in traditional haveli homes. White paper kites shimmer in the

night sky, diving and soaring as rival fliers joust in duels marked by battle cries of

'Pecha!' and victory shouts of Bo Kata! Bursts of drums and trumpets mark the

cutting of a kite's cord.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS Food stalls are put up in the open grounds,

and many concerts are held around the

country. Celebrities too rejoice along with

the people and therefore, become one of

the main attractions of this event. Horse



and cattle show is put up where the best breed of horses and cattle are decorated

and displayed in a parade

Lahore is the provincial capital of Punjab. It's a very historical city, Mughals who

ruled the subcontinent found this city their favorite if you happen to visit this

fascinating city you'll find a lot of monuments still showing that Mughals ruled

this part of the world for a massive period of time. Lahore is such a famous city

especially in Pakistan that people of Pakistan is used to say (it's a term in Punjabi

language which means) "One who hasn't seen Lahore has seen nothing".

Traditionally its 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.

Basant is celebrated on Saturday evening, which is usually called as night Basant.

The night Basant is totally different thing to see. People prepare for the night

Basant by putting floodlights on their roofs. If you get a look of sky at the night

Basant you find that sky is covered with white kites floating in the sky like stars

representing a spectacular scene. People especially ladies wear yellow clothes,

which is a traditional dress of Basant. In contrast to night Basant the Basant on day



is a totally different experience because unlike night now people fly colorful kites

and sky is covered with vivid colors

In March, Basant is celebrated in

Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The same is the

scene here and it 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 reason for that is that not only people from all across the country come

to participate in this festival with the locals but also people from neighboring

countries like India come to Pakistan to take part in this colorful festival.

For the last few years more and more organizations are celebrating this festival as

commercial venture. This year the government has also jumped in to promote the

festival so as to promote the culture of Pakistan. It has been made a part of spring

festivities that continue for about one and a half month and includes fun fairs,

flower shows, food fairs and kite flying competitions.

Basant had created a business of Rs.2

to 3 billion in the province and

provided lot of opportunities to

common people and owners of

cottage industries in the country. To

some independent estimates overall

euphoria of Basant would generate

economic activities of Rs. 4.5 to 5 billion in the province in 2007.



DARK SIDES OF BASANTLike many of our rituals, its origins remain largely unknown to the majority of

people. But there is no denying that this is a dangerous activity. It causes severe

damage to life and property. Many lives are lost and the country suffers damages

going into hundreds of thousands of rupees every year in accidents related to it. A

few years ago three grid stations caught fire on this occasion because of short

circuits caused by metal wires used in kite flying.

Such a joyous festival has a dark side, as hospitals always are packed with kite

flyers who fell off roofs and children who were hit by cars as they ran down the

streets, their faces turned towards the sky to watch the kites. Quarters of the city

are plunged into darkness when razor-sharp kite cords rolled in powdered glass or

made of steel cut electricity wires. According to the officials of Lahore Electricity

Supply Company "If there are 50 one-hour breakdowns, it costs us 2.5 million

rupees (4300 dollars)

HAKEEKAT RAI:If people ever do stop to think about how basant originated, they assume it was a

Hindu festival to mark the change of seasons. That Muslims should be

participating in a pagan celebration would be bad enough. But the reality is starker

than that. Are you ready for this? Here is an account of its origin from Dr. B.S.

Nijjar's book, "Punjab under the Later Mughals." According to him, when

Zakariya Khan (1707-1759) was the governor of Punjab, a Hindu of Sialkot, by

the name of Hakeekat Rai Bakhmal Puri spoke words of disrespect for the Prophet

Muhammad and his daughter Fatima, Radi-Allahu anha. He was arrested and

sent to Lahore to await trial. The court, acting according to the law, gave him

capital punishment. The non-Muslim population was stirred to request Zakariya



Khan to lift the death sentence given to Hakeekat Rai but he did not agree to their

request. Eventually the death penalty was carried out and the entire non-Muslim

population went into mourning.

As a tribute to the memory of this blasphemer, a wealthy 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 in his book that the Basant

'mela' is celebrated in memory of Hakeekat Rai.

BRINGS SORROWWhile many citizens of Pakistan's northern city of Lahore prepare to welcome the

spring season by celebrating the Basant festival, hundreds others throng the city

graveyards to mourn loved ones, especially kids, who lost their lives in past years

to razor-sharp kite-flying strings and stray bullets.

"I can never forget that moment when I was

carrying my son soaked in his own blood,"

Sulieman, a father who lost his son last year,

net fighting back his tears. “I was crying and

trying to stop the vehicles to take him to the

hospital," he recalled horrifying moments still

vivid in his memory.

His son, Javed who was only 6 when he died,

got his throat cut by a sharp kite-flying string

on February 7, 2006.



He was sitting in front of his father on a motorbike when a stray razor-sharp string

cut his throat leaving him in a pool of blood. Sulieman, a sales agent by

profession, rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he breathed his last.

For the grieving parents, spring stocks nothing except bitter memories.

I didn't know what to do. I was just praying for my child's life as the doctors kept

solacing me," said Sulieman. My life plunged into darkness when doctors told me

that Javed was no more. I didn't know how to tell his mother."

Normal kite-flying had been the only event of Basant festival till six years back,

but the induction of razor-sharp string,

and contest of aerial firing on the

rooftops have resulted in deaths of

hundreds of citizens, mostly children.

Many kite-flyers use metal and other

banned string, which not only result in

throat-cutting incidents but also cause

massive power breakdowns in the city for various days.

According to a recent survey conducted by Gallop Pakistan, one of the country's

leading polling groups, some 58 percent of Lahoriites want a total ban on kite-

flying, while 24 percent others demand strict implementation of law, particularly

about use of metal and banned string and aerial firing.ubair Koal, a resident of

Lahore's old locality Mughlapura, says that with the beginning of February they

start taking precautionary measures to save lives instead of preparing to welcome

the spring. Till some years back, we all used to wait for Basant for enjoyment. But

currently, instead of enjoyment, we are more concerned about our lives and

lingering power breakdowns, caused by metal string.



Recalling his memories, Zubair said Basant had been a simple and entertaining

festival.

There were no rooftop parties, mixed gatherings, dances of actresses and aerial

firing, he added.

NIGHTMARES:Nowadays, vulgarity is being promoted in the name

of Basant. This is not basant. This is murder, said a

disgruntled Koal.Most of Lahoriites avoid traveling

on motorbikes during the days of basant fearing a

stray kite-flying string may cut their throats.

Koal said Basant had turned violent over the last

five-six years after the government started

patronizing this festival and overlooking law

violation.

According to a recent survey conducted by Gallop Pakistan, one of the country's

leading polling groups, some 58 percent of Lahoriites want a total ban on kite-

flying, while 24 percent others demand strict implementation of law, he insists. I

am not against this festival. In fact I had been a staunch participant but now I feel

that kite flying should be completely banned.

Taking notice of several deaths due to kite-flying string, the Supreme Court last

year banned the festival. However, the Punjab government has allowed Basant for

three days under the cover of a newly promulgated ordinance.



Though, the government imposes a strict ban on aerial firing and use of banned

string, police appear to be helpless as the violators include high-power politicians,

government functionaries and other bigwigs

Somewhere beneath the thousands of multicolored kites that flash above the

rooftops in defiance of a government ban, Rizwan Ahmed is mourning the death

of his four-year-old son Shayan.

"You cannot imagine the horrible and tragic scene. My son's throat was

completely cut open," he says from his humble home in a suburb of Lahore,

Pakistan's teeming cultural hub and second largest city.

"But I hope the blood of my

son will save the lives of many

other innocent children."

Little Shayan was one of ten

people, mostly children, who

died last week during the

frenzied run-up to the spring

festival of Basant, their heads partly severed by glass-coated, steel or nylon kite

twine.

The cords are razor-sharp so they can slash the strings of rival kites during aerial

duels, but when they fall across roads they become "like cheese wire", according

to one policeman.



Spurred by angry protests, the authorities shocked the country by outlawing kites

the day before the centuries-old rite and arresting more than 1 000 kite-flyers and

sellers.

Heavy-hearted socialites quickly cancelled fabulous parties in their fairy-lit

mansions, while corporate bashes on rooftops overlooking the red sandstone

Badshahi mosque and 16th century Lahore Fort were called off.

But late on Saturday night -- the climax of the festival -- as the police tired of

chasing through streets choked with exhaust fumes and firecracker smoke, rumors

of Basant's demise appeared premature.

White, moth-like kites began to fill the dark sky just before midnight, fleetingly lit

by giant spotlights, while jubilant cries of "bo kata!" [I cut it!] rang out above

pulsating bhangra music.

"Normally it's much better than this. But at least people are having a go now the

cops are in bed," said one middle-aged man, smiling as he wrestled with a kite

string -- illegally -- at one impromptu roof party.

A few hours of sleep later and kites colored red, yellow and blue were soaring

above the smog again on Sunday afternoon, before falling into roads and draping

themselves alarmingly across power lines.

The attempt to ban Basant went to the heart of 21st century Pakistan. The festival

exemplifies the fun loving yet traditional spirit of the country's most liberal city,

while its emergence in the last decade as a major tourist and commercial event

shows Pakistan's economy booming.



Coca-Cola is the festival's major sponsor while even tiny companies print their

names on kites.

But the chaotic crackdown, the obstinacy of the flyers who refuse to use safe string

and the frequent power cuts caused by falling kites embody some of the key

problems in poor, military-ruled Pakistan.

Then, as usual in this Islamic republic of 150-million people, there is the religion

question. Basant has long been a target of fundamentalists who say the festival has

Hindu or pagan origins.

Laborites spoke of their sadness at both the unfortunate deaths and at the decision

to outlaw the event.

"I won't be flying any kites this Basant. To see ourselves responsible for killing

people and killing the sport we have followed so passionately is heartbreaking,"

said Ashaar Rehman, a prominent journalist.

Pakistan's Supreme Court outlawed kites in 2005, but the ban was lifted for 15

days for Basant at the request of the provincial government -- which then promptly

reinstated it last Friday.

Kamran Lashari, who as a former senior official in Lahore was largely responsible

for making Basant the big event it is today, said the solution was to ban the deadly

strings and to educate the public about the risks.

"The way is not to close it down but to strongly regulate it. It needs to be

protected, it's the only time that the old city becomes one family, from street boys



to the multinationals," added Lashari, who now heads Islamabad's capital

development authority.

Kite-flyers said their proposals to the government for strict Basant rules had fallen

on deaf ears.

"There should be kite-flying zones for professionals. It is haphazard kite-flying

which is responsible for the killings," said Khawaja Nadeem Wyne, president of

the Kite Dealers' Association of Lahore.

Meanwhile the Pakistani authorities have a year to figure out how to keep the

festival going while saving the lives of people like 18-year-old Nadeem Pasha.

"He was riding his bike when the string slit his throat," his father Haji Sairaj Din

told Agence France-Presse. "The ban on kite-flying is a matter of satisfaction for

me and I will demand that the government bans it permanently".



CONCLUSIONAfter reviewing the issues related to Basant Festivals I conclude that, the

celebration styles of Basant have been changed with the passage of time. Basant is

now used more as another means to show ones richness, influence, and might.

Overindulgent friends to relish the Basant craze people fly from, Islamabad,

Karachi and other cities of Pakistan especially to Lahore. There is loud music,

firing in the air, daylong parties on the occasion of Basant. Business executives,

deluxe hotel owners, organize grand parties and everyone who is anyone turns the

occasion into yet another display of wealth.

Our government spends millions of rupees to entertain foreign guests on Basant,

rather than spending it to improve literacy rate, inadequate medical facilities and

the provision of basic amenities to common people. Many foolish people use

illegal Copper, Nylon thread and Tundi [Strings] to loot the maximum kites. But

this nonsense act of few is damaging the national wealth and destroys the Powers

System of electricity. The provincial and city governments have turned a blind eye

towards violations of kite-flying code and firing incidents.

The people of Lahore made security measures for themselves and for there

families for Basant festival but besides all measures every year many people got

injured and lost there friends, children, or family members by fallen sharp glass

coated strings on them, by falling from rooftops and by accidents while catching

kites between the traffic.

It is true that every year Basant creates huge business, it grabs huge foreign

investment. But money is not every thing, money is not important then the life of

our citizens, the life our beloved ones



REFERENCES:

Websites:

www.wikipedia.com

www.thingsasian.com

www.lahore.metblogs.com

www.islamonline.com

News Papers:

www.dawn.com

www.dailytimes.com

www.thenation.com.pk

THE END


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Final Basant