Kots (Korts-Qasars-Qasoor)

    The city of Kasur is an aggregation of fortified hamlets, called kots, small in themselves, but together forming a considerable town. In 1592 12 principal residential colonies were built by Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. The names of 12 kots are Kot Pacca Qila, Kot Nawan Qila, Kot Azam Khan, Kot Ghulam Mohayyudin Khan, Kot Murad Khan, Kot Haleem Khan, Kot Peer Mohammad Khan, Kot Fateh Din Khan, Kot Usman Khan, Kot Badar-ud-Din Khan, Kot Ruken Din Khan, Kot Nawab Hussain Khan

Now along with these there are many other towns and colonies in the city.

   History of Name

     Historically the city of Kasur was named by ancient Aryan tribe of Kambojas who migrated from Mittani and Kussara and belonged to Ancient King Pithana of Mesopotamian Kussara. This fact is also endorsed by renowned folk Baba Bulay Shah that all Pathans of Kasur would become weavers very soon. The town of Khudian was built by ancient Aryan Iranian Kambojas of Kasur who claim descent from Saman Khuda. A village Khoda nearKhudian is also inhabited by Kambojah Clan. The same clan Kambojas also claims to be offsprings of Kumbakarna and Rama. Ancient town of Rajowal of Kambojas is also related to Kambojas of Khemkaran. According to a traditional belief, Kasur was founded by Prince Kusha, the son of Lord Rama, while Lahore, called Lavapuri in ancient times, was founded by his brother Prince Lava. Kasur had been allotted by the Mughals to Pashtuns or Afghans of Kabul and still contains a colony of Pashtuns. However the site was occupied by a Rajput town long before the period of Muslim rule. According to some historians, the name Kasur is derived from Kashawar, the same way Lahore is said to be taken from Lahawar. Kush, the son of Ram Chander or Rama, is said to have founded Kasur like his brother Loh or Lav is said to have founded Lahore. However, some historians opine that Kasur is a Persian word and a plural of “Kasar” or “Qasar” (meaning palace), which the name was given during the times Kasur was a remarkable colony of Pathans, perhaps the most remarkable on this side of Indus.

    Dress

     The local dress consists of a Kurta without collar covered by a waist-coat or Kurti and a loose loin cloth or trousers. A long piece of cloth called Chaddar is usually thrown over the shoulders. Achkan and Sherwani are worn on formal occasions by most people, but quite a large number of Muhajirs (refugees) wear these as normal dress. In the villages, a Kurta with Tehband (sheet round of legs) and Safa on shoulders is the most common dress. The Pagri still carries a sign of respectability and some people in the cities while most people in the villages have this as the sole head-dress. The women’s clothes are generally more colorful with popular shades of red and yellow. Women clothing consists of Shalwar, Kamiz and Dopatta or Chaddar to cover their heads and upper part of the body. Phulkari is a silk embroidered shawl often fancied by the rural women-folks. Saree is only worn by women in towns and cities on formal occasions. The most common footwear for men in the villages is shoes of rough leather usually made by the village shoemaker. Boots are worn by those living in the cities and towns while women folk-wear sandal or slippers. Purdah is very common amongst the lower, middle and upper middle class women but rare amongst women of upper class.

    Betrothals/Marriages

    Betrothal always precedes a marriage. The proposal is initiated by near relative of the boy or girl and the women of both sides take leading role in finalizing the proposal. The wedding may take place any time after the betrothal. Marriages between the same section of tribe are customary but inter- marriage between people of different tribes and clans in cities and towns is becoming more frequent. The usual age at marriage for boys is 18 to 20 years and that for girls is 16 to 20 years. On the wedding day, the relatives and friends of the boy assemble and proceed in procession to the girl’s house. The marriage procession is generally headed by musical band. The marriage party is received by the relatives and friends of the parents of the girl. The party is then entertained. Thereafter the Nikah (wed-lock) ceremony is performed by the Nikah Registrar and a feast is given to the marriage procession. Alms are distributed to Fakirs (beggars) and village mueens are fed. At the end, the groom with the bride are put into a Doli (palanquin) and taken away to the groom house. The bride stays in her new house for a couple of days and then returns to her father’s house. This coming home of the bride is called Muklawa.

    Basant

   Basant is annual festival celebration of spring season, which connotes that winter is gone and days of joy and blossom have arrived as harvest of wheat crop is also anticipated in same season. Use of yellowish shades during festival of basant hints towards the joy and blossom of spring and the shining sun. Kasur is very famous all around the world for its specific basant festival, which is now linked with more formal functions in its neighbor city Lahore.