Lahore: Basant Bo Kata

Lahore doesn’t celebrate Basant | Arrangements go waste | Youths celebrate event by arranging dinners | In-door private parties held in posh areas of the City | Sky, rooftops remain clear

The rooftops of various such areas of the city which were famous for the kite flying and for celebrating such kind of festival with illuminating the roofs with colourful lights remained dim on the occasion of Basant night.

Particularly the rooftops of the Walled City and the surrounding localities remained deserted like ‘no men’s land’.

Some youngsters celebrated Basant by arranging dinners inside their homes or on the rooftops in the dim lights but without flying kites. However, some non-serious youngsters time and again resorted to opening aerial firing all the night but Sunday remained peaceful and no such incident took place in the city.

Citizens remained busy in their routine activities and enjoyed the weekly off day by visiting homes of their relatives.

It is pertinent to mention that Lahorites seemed determined to celebrate the kite flying festival on Sunday and in this regard they had made indoor preparations and arrangements by collecting kites and strings while the indoor business of selling such items also continued in the city despite a strict ban on the kite flying by the judiciary, the provincial government and the City District Government Lahore (CDGL)

However, several youths violated the ban a day before Sunday and continued flying kites on their rooftops particularly in the Walled City, surrounding localities including Gwal Mandi, Anarkali, Mohni Road, Misri Shah and Naulakha Bazaar and in capacious grounds. The kite and strings sale business continued before the Basant day under the nose of two police stations of the Walled City located in Mochi Gate allegedly under the shelter of police officials and the relevant authorities of the city district government. However, shops remained closed on Sunday due to the warnings given by the authorities concerned who also remained busy checking any violation in the city.

Further, the police mobile vehicles were also remained moving in their relevant areas.

Courtesy: The Post, 17/3/2008