The Edward-Dean Museum & Gardens presents “The Basant Kite Festival” This event is Free to the Public, Sunday, February 20, 2010, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Let’s go fly a kite. The Basant Kite Festival represents the start of spring which is the first month of the year on Indian and Chinese calendars.

Baljit Toor will lead a Kite making workshop with participation from the India Association of the Inland Empire and the VAP Club of the Inland Empire.

Yellow flowers of spring are commemorated by the wearing of yellow clothing and the cooking of yellow foods. This symbolizes the welcome of the color of life after a gray winter.

Flying Kites started from the old tradition which was lost in time in India, but it’s still a custom in China for people to write down wishes and messages for their ancestors, tie them to the kite and send them to the heavens.

This is commercialized in India, Pakistan and Arabian countries as a sport. The competition is to try and fly your kite very high while keeping other people from trying to cut your string. This will continue until the last kite is in the air then the person declares "Jhandi," the victory. The competition can last at least a month.

The string is very important. It is coated with ground glass and mica to make it very strong. This is an exciting way to welcome the New Year.

There will be food, clothes and jewelry booths. Kites will be available for purchase at $1.00 each or you may bring your own.

General information: The Edward-Dean Museum is located at 9401 Oak Glen Road, Cherry Valley, CA.  The Museum is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and is closed on county holidays. Admission to the Museum is $5; children 12 and under are free. Guided tours are available by appointment. The Museum's permanent collections are primarily 16th through 19th century European and Asian decorative arts including furniture, ceramics, glass, textiles, sculptures, and many small collections such as miniature paintings, fans and pocket watches.       

###BACK