Basant – a festival of Punjab's culture and beautiful colours

Punjab's culture is extremely beautiful and captivating. The vibrant colors of this culture reappeared after 25 years in the form of Basant, visible once again on rooftops and across the skies. This year, Basant was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Lahore. The three-day Basant Festival brought smiles back to people's faces. After 25 years, the revival of Basant provided citizens with an opportunity to celebrate Punjab's cultural heritage once again. The credit for this revival goes to Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, while the idea and directive to restore the Basant festival came from PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz turned this vision into reality. The international recognition and appreciation the festival received is the greatest evidence of its success. It has always been said that Punjab's colors and culture are the true identity of the province worldwide. This time, after 25 years, the younger generation had the opportunity to witness these traditions with their own eyes. The decision by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to celebrate Basant again in Lahore was a difficult one, as many concerns had been raised. However, she implemented the decision successfully. Strict security arrangements were made prior to the festival. Since many young people were celebrating Basant for the first time in their lives, comprehensive safety measures were ensured. Approximately 1.3 million safety rods were installed on motorcycles across Punjab for citizens' protection. Public transport remained completely free during the three days of Basant, including 500 electric buses, rickshaws and taxis. Around 5 million people availed the free transport service. During Basant, more than one million vehicles entered Lahore. Considering the number of passengers arriving by air from abroad and by trains from other cities of Pakistan, it is estimated that over ten million people came to Lahore to celebrate Basant. Not only Pakistanis but also foreign nationals traveled to Lahore to participate in the festivities. Foreign ambassadors and representatives of international media especially visited Lahore to cover the festival and enjoy kite flying themselves. Following the revival of Basant, people across Pakistan praised Maryam Nawaz and admired the good fortune of Lahoris. The three-day Basant celebrations in Lahore created a new global identity for the city. Visitors from Karachi and other cities remarked that while they had always heard Lahore is the city of the lively-hearted, this Basant allowed them to witness it firsthand. The decision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to celebrate Basant received appreciation at every level, and citizens from across the country expressed immense joy and happiness. Basant provided entertainment not only for locals but also projected a positive image of Pakistan worldwide. Perhaps for the first time, international media openly and positively showcased Pakistan's image. The message delivered to the world was that Pakistanis are peace-loving people who cherish their culture. The idea of reviving Basant belonged to Mian Nawaz Sharif, but it was implemented by Maryam Nawaz. Under the auspices of the Punjab Information and Culture Department, a three-day Basant celebration was organized at Delhi Gate, Lahore. Foreign diplomats, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, and ministers attended the event. (The writer is Punjab Minister for Information and Culture)

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/p7AU25N