Let me say one thing straight out, I am not against basant. In fact I enjoy it for pretty much all of the reasons one ‘ought’ to enjoy it (which basically means I celebrate basant on rooftops, not in basements — and you probably do know what I mean). I believe myself to be an above average patang-baaz and have bled my fingers without paying heed to the pain, all in the name of competition. I have never complained that the cuts hurt every time I eat saalan or eat them juicy kinnos. (nodding your head on this one with a smile on your face? ).
[Read more →]

Where? What? Hunh?

For the first time in my life, I really do not know when did this colorful festival of basant went by. Or did it? Was it postponed? On Lahore Metblogs, I was informed that PHA has announced 24th of February as the day for celebrating basant. Yes, I know, that is almost a month back.

Surely, there is no spirit for basant right now. Last year, the string (dore) killed people, but at least the string had no malice intent. This year, we have people with demented minds and decayed souls with bombs to ensure that the colorfully jubilant event that Lahore has so proudly claimed at its own in the past, does not get celebrated.

Or did it get celebrated? :S Hmmm…

PHA workers install models of various national monuments at the Jillani Park or Race Course Park to celebrate Jashan-e-Baharan 2008.

Spring festival or Jashn-e-baharan has started from March 1st to March 31st, 2008 in Jillani Park (Race course Park) Lahore. Jillani Park (Race course Park) will be the hub of festivities which is set to bring colour, pageantry and spectacle to the Punjab capital. The roads, especially The Mall and Canal Road, will be decorated with colourful lights and floats while cultural and musical shows will be held in different areas.

Basant, Kite flying is the major and most colorful event of this feastival. Thousands of kite-flying lovers across the globe look forward to visit Lahore and other cities during the Spring festival. But Kite-flying was seriously banned in 2005, 2006 because increase in throat-slitting incidents caused by glass-coated or metal kite-strings. Even after the ban the police sources said about seven people, including children, were killed in kite related incidents in 2007. At least 872 people have been killed and 2,100 injured in kite-related incidents during the last 5 years. And even now in February 2008, 83 people in Lahore alone have been arrested for violating kite-flying law.

[Read more →]