A young man engaged in a kite battle. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD: Amid loud dhol beats, colourful buntings, and high spirits, a three-day Spring Festival kicked off with a successful start here on Sunday.
While such events are regularly arranged at Lok Virsa, the festival still attracted a sizeable crowd, as families and youngsters indulged in the age-old welcome to spring — kite flying.
Enthusiastic kite fliers came in droves. While some had kites stacked under their arms, others bought them at the venue, still others lurked around for an opportunity to snag a flying kite after its string was cut.
“I used to go to Lahore every year for basant till it was banned. It’s a shame. We need something to celebrate…an outlet for fun. People have really forgotten how to have fun,” said Fahad Mehmood, who stood with his friends as they craned their necks up in the bright sky while trying very hard to keep up with the other kite fliers.
The only large stall set up to sell kites was run by Mohammad Ibrahim, a kite maker from Lahore. Sitting on the ground, diligently making and selling kites, Ibrahim was happy to see a kite flying festival after so long. “I have been making and selling kites for 40 years. The ban in Lahore has been so severe that even if the police see a young child holding a kite, they will get hold of him. My business suffered immensely and eventually I gave up and started working as a day-labourer. It is so refreshing to be here and see colourful kites in the sky once again, he added.
His stall seemed to be doing well, as around 500 kites had been sold by midday on the first day, filling the pavilion sky with yellow, reds, blues and orange flecks while people yelled, “paicha laga” (kites are locked) and “bo kata!” (string has been cut).
Other attractions included various stalls decked with handicraft, woodwork, pottery, embroidery and dry fruit.
Dhol player Shaukat Dholi also attracted a large crowd as people gathered to break into some bhangra moves and grove to the beat. However, Punjabi music was not the only style at the festival, as groups of visitors from Gilgit-Baltistan lined up to perform a traditional dance with just as much enthusiasm. Families with bags full of shopping could also be seen helping themselves to plate full of chaats, dahi baray and ice cream.
The festival will continue till February 26 at Lok Virsa from 11:00am to 8:00pm every day. Entry for the public is free.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2013.
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