Bright sun, kites mark Punjab’s Basant Panchami celebrations

CHANDIGARH - Overcast conditions and rainfall in many parts of Punjab since the last two days made way for a clear sky and bright sunshine Tuesday as people observed the festival of ‘Basant Panchami’ — the first day of the spring season.

Youngsters and children could be seen flying kites in various cities and towns across Punjab. Many of them were flying yellow kites — the colour associated with the festival.

The enthusiasm across rural areas of the state was even more palpable, with people basking in the yellow coloured mustard (sarson) fields.

Residents in the border city of Ferozepur, where a kite festival is held to mark the occasion, enjoyed flying kites.

Local authorities in some districts of Punjab, especially Amritsar and Ferozepur where kite-flying is quite popular, were concerned over the use of Chinese strings which had led to several people being injured in recent days.

At least two fatalities have been reported in Amritsar due to the deadly Chinese string, similar to a plastic string, forcing the administration and police to ban the sale and use of this cheap string.