It’s topical at the moment with the new laws passed making dangerous kite strings a capital offence, but just from the perspective of looking at it as an event, Basant is usually pretty spectacular in Pakistan.
Can’t see what people get out of it myself, but it’s an interesting picture.
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The picture is a painting and looks totally unnatural. You cant have so many kites in such a small space.
The string being outlawed is the metal kind, no one flies with these except the kids who want to "chamair" kites. I dont think any law is going to stop them.
I dont think you can ever see "what people get out of it", you need to flat roof top to do that. :p
Ive been on a flat roof at night with all the spotlights on, tikka kebabs, the whack so I know what I'm talking about from a spectator's point of view anyway.
You might be right about the picture being painted, it does seem unlikely that you could get that many kites in one place.
waisay, didn't your dad ever clip you round the ear and tell you to stop messing about with kites on rooftops because it was dangerous? If I'd been there I would have made sure he gave you a couple of smacks to make sure it sunk in :D
I missed the basant this year. I was a bit late. May be next year. But I still got a chance to fly kites though. Had few good paichaas.
The dor is a killer. There is just no avoiding it. Your hands get cut at various places. It friggin' hurts too. Even if you use tape on your fingers, it eventually gets pierced through by the dor. There got to be a better alternative. Perhaps some metalic shell but then again, it's no fun flying a kite unless you can feel the 'tan' (the tension of the dor) with your bare fingers.
One big problem with kite flying in Lahore is that electricity goes off and on sproradically. That's due to dor getting entagled with the electric wires outside. That's one heck of a big reason to start implementing underground wiring to begin with.
Is this like a hindu holiday b/c i've never heard of it, but i do knw that hindus have a kite festival.
Romanov
Trying investing in those semi-thick cotton gloves :halo: The kind you use in the gardening and stuff.
Yes Romeo, use protection man.
Basant is a an official cultural celebration in Punjab and this year it was celebrated for 3 days in Lahore and was a public holiday (alas when I was student it never was holiday 
) It celebration at time wheen crop is ripe and celebrated in spring time.. its jubilation time.. for last 15-0 years basant fever has crossed any other event in Lahore.. from kids or professional flying kites on one day it has effortlessly evolved into a master event where families have joined in food and kite flying events.. now the whole night before basant Lahore is lit with lights and white kites covere skies of Lahore all night.. now it attracts thousands around the world.. foreigners rush to Lahore if they are any place in Pakistan.. I still remeber the sleepless nights as a kid back home before basant.. the fervor for right door and collection of my kites..
As in all events there is downside and that is few deaths and over indulgence in respect to money and time.. but done in arational way its great event and I miss those basants here a lot..
Sehar, believe you me, even those won't work. They'll get cut through right away. Plus they are way too bulky and cumbersome.
One of the guys I was flying kites with told me that he even had a one rupee coin bent to fit his open side index finger for protection. He told me that by the end of the day, the coin shell was half worn off due to dor running off on it.
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*Originally posted by Roman: *
Sehar, believe you me, even those won't work. They'll get cut through right away. Plus they are way too bulky and cumbersome.
One of the guys I was flying kites with told me that he even had a one rupee coin bent to fit his open side index finger for protection. He told me that by the end of the day, the coin shell was half worn off due to dor running off on it.
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We have tried think leather rings. They work good, for about two pechas. A mochi will make you two dozen for Rs100.
Yeh, that doesn't sound bad. I'm gonna try that next year.
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*Originally posted by Muni: *
Is this like a hindu holiday b/c i've never heard of it, but i do knw that hindus have a kite festival.
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Well as far as I'm aware, most people in Lahore aren't hindus - although a few might be - and neither are their kites.
waite until taliban bans it as infidal idol worshippers fun.
Well taleban is not governing Punjab so what difference will that make?
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*Originally posted by Muni: *
Is this like a hindu holiday b/c i've never heard of it, but i do knw that hindus have a kite festival.
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Muni, it's a festival -- I'm not sure if it's a holiday too in Lahore but even if it's not, I'm sure most of the people take the day off anyway.
And no, it's not a "Hindu" or "Muslim" festival. It's a festival.
:k:
Thats the spirit, we cant divide our culture on basis of religion. Basant festival is celebrated throughout India as celebration of new crops coming to the harvest. And kite flying is symbol of colors/happiness and the special day you are talking about is 14th january , which is known by Lohri, Pongal, Bihu, khichdi or makar sankranti.
Peace and Love!
there are too many festivals of all religens
Anant Chaturdashi | Ashadhi Ekadashi | Baisakhi | Bakari-id | Bhai Dooj | Buddha Purnima/Jayanti | Champa Shashti | Christmas | Dussehra | Datta Jayanti | Diwali | Easter Sunday | Gandhi Jayanti | Ganesh Jayanti | Ganga Dashahara | Geeta Jayanti | Good Friday | Gudhi Padva | Guru Nanak Birth Anniversary | Hanuman Jayanti | Holi | Id-E-Milad | Idul Fitr | Independence Day | Janmashtami | Karva Chauth | Kojagari Purnima | Lohri | Mahashivaratri | Mahavir Jayanti | Makar Sankranti | Mohorram | Nag Panchami | Navratra | Parshuram Jayanti | Pola | Raksha Bandhan | Rath Saptami | Republic Day | Shri Ramnavami | Tripurari Purnima | Tulsi Vivaha | Vaikuntha Chaturdashi | Vaman Jayanti/Onam | Vasant Panchami
rvikz, couldn't you friggin' paragraph it? It's way too cumbersome to read.
rvikz you are an a-hole. You know I celebrate all those holidays and never did you send me the miThai. 
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*Originally posted by rvikz: *
there are too many festivals of all religens
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Rvikz: Pardon my ignorance but what festival is when the girlies tie the rakhi?? I have that done for ages by a childhood friend. As I understand its supposed to give protection to the "brother" so he can protect the "sister"...Theres a saying in Punjabi that she says while putting it on... all very sweet :)
My apologies in advance if I have said something offensive, I am not big on Hindu festivals but this one has been a regular part of my holiday list.