Traditional donkey cart race creates gridlock

Passersby’s cars, carts kept colliding due to mismanagement

KARACHI: Upholding the city's historical tradition, 60 donkey carts were brought out on the streets for a race from Bilawal Chowrangi to Village restaurant on main Sea View Road on Saturday, resulting in a terrible traffic mess.

From the beginning of the race, the donkey carts were stuck in traffic and kept colliding into the vehicles moving around due to disorderly arrangement on part of the organisers - the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The KMC had organised the race in order to maintain the tradition of a donkey cart race in the city.



A number of donkey carts, ramming into each other, participated in the race, with a few of the racers damaging their carts in the process.

The race was won by 'Chota Rocket' ridden by Tariq, who was presented a trophy by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The chief minister also hugged the winner while handing over a cash prize of Rs25,000.

The runner-up, 'Hiran ka Bacha' ridden by Shahjahan, was also presented with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs15,000. The second runner-up was 'Nokia' ridden by Ahmed Raza, who was given Rs10,000. All the other participants received Rs1,000 as participating rewards.

Shahjahan, who won the race last year, complained about the ill planning on part of the organisers, saying that it cost him the race. However, Tariq was overwhelmed. "I am really happy with my donkey today that he ran really well," he said. "But there was a huge traffic [jam] on the track of the race."



Most of the participants belonged to Lyari. Donkey Cart Association president Muhammad Baran Baloch appreciated the efforts of KMC in organising the race and said that the initiative will help promote the sport in Lyari, which is one of the most neglected areas of the city. "This game should be played on national level in order to encourage [the residents] and help keep [them] away from drugs."

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2016.