I was performing at Basant, the traditional Pakistani kite flying festival. At first glance, our performance did not seem Pakistani or traditional at all, but I find that there is a unique beauty in being able to sway our hips in traditional movements to American hip-hop beats. In essence, this dance defined us. And by us, I mean all the second-generation Asian American kids who'd organized or attended the event. I was proud to showcase our unique vision to an applicable audience.
Performing at Basant Bahaar, I'm in the white bottoms.
That's all Basant really was to me at the time. An opportunity to perform and just let a little bit of stress out. My parents had always described the intensity of Basant, or Kite Flying Day, back home in Asia. Every family member climbed onto their roof, gaily dressed, and let their kites loose in the seemingly endless sky. From their rooftops, neighbors battled each other, diving and ducking with their kites, attempting to cut each other's kites in half while simultaneously cutting their fingers with the glass string they so skillfully maneuvered.
A typical Basant sky at dusk. Competitions often continue past two days.
Coupled with the depiction of Basant the novel "The Kite Runner" by Khalid Hosseini presented, I had pretty high hopes for the event. "The Kite Runner" deals with the honor and pride associated with this yearly event. The main character strives to "run" or catch a fallen kite (the individual who collects the last one to fall is most prestigious) in order to prove himself to his father. Honor, achievement, and face are all very central to many Muslim societies. As my parents have always told me, "regardless of whether or not you have money or land, you must always have dignity." I was quite excited and hoped to call my parents at the end of the day and proudly let them know I had cut a kite.
The Kite Runner was a great read, and I look forward to seeing the recently released movie.
The Basant at UT consisted of a few lazy string-kite flyers and older women purchasing clothing and jewelry from make-shift bazaars as UT's Pakistani Student Association hosted several performances on stage.
Khusse (shoes) and Chuuriya (Bangles) are sold in every color and make at bazaars. They're easy to carry, necessary to buy often, and great to just look through.
To me, the spirit or feel of the celebration did not do its Asian counterpart justice. What I later realized was that those alien to our culture truly experienced a little bit of Asia. Ryan Edwards took several shots at the event, and although these images were nothing out of the ordinary for me, I saw them in a new light through an outsider's lens.
One of Ryan's photos, and a very common sight for me, but perhaps not for most.
Part of the performances was a fashion show in which we exhibited a multitude of outfits in different styles. I was surprised when a friend later commented that he didn't even know Indo-Pak clothes came in different styles. Indeed, the field of design in South Asia has proved to be as breathtaking as it is lucrative.
There are many, many fashion shows held in South Asia advertising designer clothing.
Here is a quick guide on a few of the different types of clothing. Keep in mind that this draws from my experience in which my religion and culture have all been mashed together into one identity. The lines are continually blurred.
For Women:
The Salwar Kameez:
the most basic form of clothing. This design has probably been warped and twisted the most creating all kinds of looks from simple to wedding-worthy.
Salwar Kameez have been modernized and become sleeveless. The pants are also often fitted (much like skinny jeans).
The Saari:
traditionally only worn by women after marriage, it has now become popular. Saaris are very difficult to walk in and it takes a lot of practice and composure to do so properly. Thus, it is a symbol of womanhood.
Saaris are the epitome of beauty and elegance, this modern version omits the piece worn over the chest.
The Lengha Choli:
often seen in movies, the lengha choli is a dress/skirt bottom with a midriff revealing top. In Pakistan, it is often seen with a top that covers the midriff.
The Lengha choli is not wrapped, but pre-stitched unlike the Saari, and often worn by brides.
For Men:
The Kurta:
much like the salwar kameez, the most basic outfit for men. Very commonly worn, in cotton.
Kurtas come in many colors, with pajamas and scarves.
The Sherwani:
a fancier outfit, usually worn when women wear saaris. Much like a suit, the style makes a man's chest appear firmer and shoulders wider.
Sherwanis don't have much to do with swords aside from the fact that they both look cool.
Dhotis:
dhotis are very traditional. They consist of no strings, simply cloth which is tied in some magical manner so that it does not fall off. Not many people feel comfortable walking around in it!
Dhotis are like sarongs, and as seen above, I guess some people like to wear them with button-downs!
That's a quick crash course on what a typical South Asian might wear to an event such as Basant. Now that we're caught up on the experience, what exactly is the history of the event? Basant began in Punjab, a region of India/Pakistan known for it's colorful music and dancing. The celebration occurs at the beginning of Spring each year, and superstition has it that flowers blossom following the ceremony. Kite fighting has always prevailed in the area as a less morbid way to end family feuds and rivalries. The festival spread and soon became commonly celebrated. The reason there was most likely no kite fighting at UT (other than bloody, infected hands and fingers encouraging the spread of disease), was because these bloody rituals are often seen as barbaric.
Bloody fingers after a day of kite flying. Imagine deep paper cuts. It's not fun!
It's not until you really sit down and think about it that you realize how much information you have to share with those around you. I've always taken my culture as common knowledge, yet just as I have much to learn about others, I have realized I have much to teach.
We are each others best sources for knowledge outside the books.
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