A bundle of colourful paper kites in India

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A colourful bundle of joy. Vasant Panchami

Today is Vasant Panchami, a festival that marks the beginning of spring. It is a time for families to gather and spend the day flying kites. You can see Basant Panchami festivals happening all over India, but it is in the Punjab region where it is the most spectacular! The skies are filled with colourful kites and yellow ribbons.

In the early 1800s, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (the founder of the Sikh Empire) and his queen Moran would dress in yellow and fly kites to mark the start of spring. Therefore, kites have become a yearly tradition as part of the Basant celebrations. Many people wear different shades of yellow as well to welcome the new season.