Spring is in the air! Flowers are blooming all over Suncity, making it heavenly. It is a pleasure to walk around Suncity, enjoy the cool breeze and glorious colours, and bright sunshine. The horticulture department of Suncity and the garden team has to be congratulated for making Suncity so beautiful, taking advantage of Rituraja.
The temperature is warmer as the sun has started its ascent into the northern hemisphere, with nights still slightly cold, at least during the early part of the season. Overall, it is one of the more moderate and pleasant times of the year. The presence of spring in the culture of India is timeless and varied, with each state and region having its own ways of extending a hearty welcome to “Rituraja”—the king of seasons.
The essence of Vasant lies in a celebration of life itself. It is a collective acknowledgement of the changes in life and a festival of hope that after every long winter comes spring.
Participating in the charm of nature and Basant (spring), people during the season put swings on trees, swinging with the sweet breeze of spring, enjoying with loved ones the arrival of the new season.
Jhoola or Hindola (swing) is an integral part of the festivities of spring, becoming a rich motif in Indian artworks. Following the tradition of seeing Krishna as the perfect hero, Ragamala paintings depict Raga Hindola, a melody celebrating the season of spring and its joys, through the image of Krishna.
The beauty of nature in the spring season, or Vasant Ritu, has been a popular element in the poetry and prose of Indian history. From Kalidas to Keshavdas, whose works inspired the Baramasa (paintings of twelve seasons), writers have been moved by the enchanting ambiance of spring.
Interesting to note that the colour yellow is the dominant colour of this festival, as it signifies the ripening of fruits and crops. The mustard fields in North India bloom during this season, giving a yellow coat to nature. People wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flowers to the Goddess, and put a yellow turmeric tilak on their forehead. Many delicious dishes are prepared on this occasion, and the table is decorated with dishes of the colour yellow.
With plants and trees starting to bloom, seasonal allergies are common. Common symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion.
According to Ayurveda, each season is characterised by a unique set of qualities or doshas. In Vasant Ritu, Kapha dosha, or the water element, which is triggered and accumulates during the winter, tends to build up in the body. It is characterised by heaviness, sluggishness, and excess mucus production.
Diet plays a crucial role in the Vasant Ritucharya. During Vasant, one of the key recommendations is to eat a light diet that is easy to digest. The food should be warm and low in fat and sugar. This is because kapha dosha tends to increase the appetite and can lead to overeating and weight gain. Ayurveda suggests incorporating digestive spices, some of which are warming and some others which are cooling, to help stimulate digestion and metabolism.
Historically, Maharaja Ranjit Singh held an annual Basant fair and introduced kite flying as a regular feature of the fairs held during the 19th century, which included holding fairs at Sufi shrines. Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his queen, Moran, would dress in yellow and fly kites on Basant. The association of kite flying with Basant soon became a Punjabi tradition with the centre in Lahore, which remains the regional hub of the festival throughout the Punjab region. Indeed, Maharaja Ranjit Singh held a darbar, or court, in Lahore on Basant, which lasted ten days. During this time, soldiers would dress in yellow and show their military prowess.
qudrat kî barkateñ haiñ khazâna basant kâ
kyâ khuub kyâ ajiib zamâna basant kâ
