Dublin, Ireland (Report : Atif Bangash/pakistani.irish) In Ireland, the 2nd Basant festival was held at Carrigaline Park, Co. Cork on 6th May 2023. More than 300 families from Cork and around the country joined the event to fly colourful kites in the Irish sky. This gathering coincided with Beltane celebrations.
The event has been organised by Amna Walayat in Collaboration with Good Day Cork. The event was made possible with generous support from Cork County Council and additional sponsorship from Spice Garden, Asian grocery shop at South Douglas Road Cork, Bethak Restaurant, a representative of Tehreek-e-Insaf Cork and Pakistan Overseas Community (POC).
The event was also supported by volunteers from POC and Tomiwa Morris.
Basant/Kite Flying Festival 2023 was formally inaugurated by Cllr. Ben Dalton O’Sullivan on behalf of Mayor of Co. Cork Cllr Danny Collins. Cllr. Ben Dalton O’Sullivan joined in the celebrations by flying a kite with the Irish colours. Cllr. Ben Dalton O’Sullivan,
“I can see the colour yellow is prominent at the Basant Festival – which is an important symbolism – yellow being a symbol of hope for the future. It’s also great to see different communities coming together, help each other to get things done.”
Participants performed ‘Bhangra’ a dance form to the live beats of the dhol/drum played by Varun Obhan, who lives in Carrigaline with his family and works as a business consultant in Cork. Everyone also enjoyed traditional food like: falafel, chatt, golgappa etc.
The event was attended by South Asian diaspora; namely Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi along with the wider community. The event was also attended by members from Afghani community. Numerous families joined Basant from Clonakilty, Dublin, Limerick, Killarney, Drogheda, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise and Tralee. Another highlight of the event was the installation by artist Kim-Ling Morris’ work with the transition year students of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire.
Kim-Ling is aCork based Japanese artist from Sample Studios. The students of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire created carp shaped kites using recycled fabrics from broken umbrellas and a spinnaker sail, to help Kim-Ling to start her “Shoal” project. In Japan, the carp represents tenacity and courage. In Ireland, we have the Salmon of Knowledge. This project brings the joy of the Japanese koinoburi (carp fish kites) to Irish shores.
Amna Walayat said, “I am extremely excited and surprised by this overwhelming response of the South Asian Community. Our native kites filled the Irish Sky. To see the great increase in response this year warms my heart. I am also thankful for all the families who made the effort to wear yellow and shared their time to support our efforts. I would like to point out that most of our team is voluntary. I would like to also thank Cork County Council and the local businesses and individual donors who supported us.”
Joanna Dukkipati, founder of Good Day Cork said, “It was most joyful to witness a colourful ritual that welcomes spring. Spring-time invites all of us to spend time in nature’s diverse gifts. And so, I am delighted to see people from the wider community of Carrigaline participate with minority cultural groups. It evokes connection and also the sense of belonging.”
Amna Walayat is hopeful and adds, “Watch this space because we have big plans for next year. If you’d like to support us. Please get in touch with us on Facebook.” Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090337215885
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All photos attached credit Zé Bateira.
About Amna Walayat: Amna Walayat has worked with Cork County Council as Creative Producer in Residence on the project titled South Asian Community Museum.
About Joanna Dukkipati: Joanna Dukkipati is a founder of Good Day Cork, a magazine and event space dedicated to amplifying under-represented voices.
About Pakistani Overseas Community: A global network of Pakistani overseas whose aim is to dignify the lives of Pakistanis residing in Pakistan and worldwide.
Kim-Ling Morris’s koinoburi (carp fish kites): Kim Ling is Cork based Japanese artist from Sample Studios. She was invited to install the Japanese koinoburi (carp fish kites). This artwork was an outcome of the transition year students of Gaelcholáiste Mhuire to help Kim-Ling to start her Shoal project.
Carrigaline in Cork County is a fast-growing town where South Asian population is growing rapidly. Many of South Asians has made Carrigaline their permanent home by taking the advantage of new residential schemes in this area.
For further information please contact Amna Walayat directly: amna.walyat@gmail.com
Amna Walayat (Cork)
Organisor Basant/Kite Flying Festival