Basant Festival to bring flavour of South Asian culture to Cork park

Carrigaline Community Park will come alive tomorrow afternoon with the return of the spectacular Basant Festival, bringing one of South Asia’s most colourful cultural traditions to Cork.

The festival, over the past four years, has grown to represent and promote South Asian identity in Ireland. What began as a small gathering has become a major multi-disciplinary, intercultural gathering, attracting South Asian communities from all across Ireland.

The family-friendly festival will feature kite flying, live performances, traditional live drumming, food stalls, and activities for all ages.

Arrival of spring

Basant, meaning ‘yellow’, celebrates the arrival of spring in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent.

Traditionally associated with fields of blooming mustard and sunflower crops, the festival has been celebrated for centuries across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. 

In cities such as Lahore, rooftops become stages for spectacular kite-flying displays that fill the skies from dawn until dusk.

Today, the Basant Festival has become a platform for celebrating South Asian culture, while promoting inclusion, diversity, and community participation.

Festival organiser Amna Walayat said: “Events like Basant create welcoming spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together, learn from one another, and celebrate culture through shared experiences. We need more public spaces where communities can connect, understand each other, and build stronger relationships despite our differences.”

Japanese Koinobori kites

This year’s festival will also feature a display of traditional Japanese Koinobori kites by Cork-based artist Kim-Ling Morris. The carp-shaped kites symbolise perseverance, strength, and the ability to overcome challenges, while their movement in the wind represents youth, energy, and hope.

However, Ms Walayat said she does not view Basant as being merely a kite-flying festival.

“It is a large-scale, collective, public cultural performance, where people share traditions, skills, and experiences from their countries of origin. Throughout the day, you see people helping each other, learning from one another, and creating meaningful connections.”

The festival is supported by Cork County Council through the Creative Communities Scheme and Local Festival Fund, helping to ensure the event remains free and accessible to everyone. Additional support was provided by local businesses.

Organisers are inviting people from all communities and backgrounds to attend, wear something yellow, fly a kite, and take part in a unique and magical celebration of culture, creativity, and community spirit.

The festival will run from 2pm to 6pm and admission is free.