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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (49761)	3/8/2006 3:39:28 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Basant Panchami, the ancient Hindu festival of spring and Basant in Lahore.. Islamic clerics have issued edicts each year branding the festival as Hindu or pagan in origin. Despite of the clerics reviving public attacks on the festival, the public participates whole heartedly. "The government should not patronize Basant as many illegal activities related to Basant get protection," Liaqat Baloch, federal parliamentarian and deputy leader of the fundamentalist Jamat-i-Islami party, told AFP.But who cares... Dialogue amongst faiths through culture.. Chalte ho to chaman ko chaliye, sunte hain ke baharan haiPaat hare hain phool khile hain, kam kam baad-o baran hai (Mir Taqi Mir) (Come, if you wish, to the garden, we hear it's spring again, Leaves are green, flowers blossom, there's mild breeze and rain) Spring Festival of South Asia Few would know that Basant Panchami, the ancient Hindu festival of spring, is also celebrated by many Muslims in India, especially at the dargah (tomb) of Nizamuddin Aulia at Delhi, every year. This 700-year-old colourful tradition is attributed to the Sufis, especially the Chishti saint Nizamuddin and his disciple Amir Khusrau Dehlavi, who were probably the first Muslims to have rejoiced at the celebration of Basant. This historical tradition has been exported to Lahore and celeberated with great fervour to pacify the 'Arabised deobandi mullahs' as 'Jashn-i-Baharaan' but still popularly knowns as 'Basant' in Lahore. Despite some orthodox people in Pakistan abhorring it, Basant in Lahore is celebrated with much more fanfare and colour than anywhere else today. The ancient eastern city of Lahore marks the beginning of spring with the Basant carnival, an orgy of kite-flying, rooftop soirees, garden parties and equestrian events, much to the disgust of Islamic clerics. Lahorites and out-of-town enthusiasts don glamorous clothes, in the yellow and green of spring flowers blooming citywide, to bid farewell to the frosts and fogs of winter and usher in spring. 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 Qawali 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. Men drape themseves 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. "If you wander through the old city tonight, you will see a lot of freedom. This is the true nature of the Pakistani people," said Basant fan and veteran political observer Imtiaz Alam, jailed by former military dictator Zia ul Haq in the 1970s for his liberal writings...continued.. cybermusings.blogspot.com