Basant is a festival of joy. let’s keep it safe and blissful.
ISLAMABAD: Basant is a festival which indicates the beginning of spring. This festival is celebrated every year in Pakistan in the month of February. To celebrate, people fly kites. These kites are made in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. To fly theses kites a special thread is made which is embedded with powdered glass to make it strong enough to cut the competitor’s kite. Although, this festival is a symbol of joy and happiness, it brings with it much safety concerns.
First, when the wire attached to kites touch electric cables, it causes a spark which leads to power outages and damage. In other cases, power fluctuations from this result in damage of household appliances. Moreover, when anyone tries to grab the stray kite stuck to an electric wire, it gives off an electric shock which results in an instant death.
Secondly, people who drive motorcycles are at a high risk of damage as stray kites are powerful enough to slit the throat.
Thirdly, excessive use of fireworks and firing also occurs at basant festivals and people die due to stray bullets. Last but not the least, freak accidents such as falling from the roof top are reported more often during such festivals. It can be summed up that basant is a festival with many hazards due to the irresponsible behaviour of people and authorities. However, basant festivals should be celebrated with traditional enthusiasm to highlight the country’s image at the international level but the hazards attached to it should be minimised. People need to correct their irresponsible behaviour. The government has to enforce strict rules and implement them in full. The media spread awareness about safety measures. Basant is a festival of joy. let’s keep it safe and blissful.
Kiran Fatima
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2020.
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