Who would have thought an activity pursued passionately across the country would create such a furore. The culprit, of course, is the razor-sharp string used to fly the kites. The injuries caused by it are undoubtedly tragic. But then people also die when racing motorcycles, cars and, occasionally, even when playing cricket. People drown in swimming pools and in canals. Should all these activities then be banned? There is another side to the story. Religious lobbies have, for years, opposed Basant — the only secular festival on the Pakistani calendar — on the dubious grounds that it is a ‘Hindu’ celebration. Hypocrisy reigns supreme, and this time, too, we have heard complaints that the kite-flying event is accompanied by drinking, gambling and dancing. This, of course, is also true, as far as alcohol consumption and dancing goes, of events such as weddings and even Eid. Gambling is a routine part of life in Lahore, while most of our marriage traditions have roots in our subcontinental past, where Hindu, Muslim and Sikh customs mingled.
The ban on kite-flying has left Lahore a more insipid place. It has also deprived dozens of peoples of jobs. We need to be rational. Glass or chemical coated string needs to be banned — these can catch unsuspecting bikers across the throat, often with fatal consequences, and can also cause short-circuits in overhead power cables. As is happening in India, awareness needs to be raised about the dangers it poses. But this having been said, there seems to be no sense at all in throwing the baby out with the bath water by placing a blanket ban on flying kites.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2011.
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