The skies remain kiteless on Basant

Colourful kites used to once hover over the iconic domes of Badshahi Mosque

ISLAMABAD: Accompanied by the dulcet tones of birds chirping joyfully and the vernal sunshine which warmed the city of Lahore, 44-year-old Malik Ramzan used to fly kites to say adieu to the bleakness of winter, welcoming spring with open arms.

During spring, colourful kites used to hover over the iconic domes of Badshahi Mosque. “Friends, neighbours and relatives used to gather and fly colourful kites from dawn to dusk on rooftops, terraces and open places, while enjoying loud music, dance and a variety of food,” said Ramzan.

For Lahoris, celebrating the advent of spring by flying kites is known as ‘basant’, a festival welcoming the new season.

Ramzan, the owner of a transport company, recalled that he used to spend thousands during the festival every year. To this extent, Basant was not only a carnival of kites, but also a drive in Lahore’s tourism economy.

However, when zealous kite flyers started to cut their opponent’s string, the joyful event started to pose a danger to the life of everyone in the city.

In the pursuit of victory, some kite flyers started using powdered glass on their kite strings or using metal strings altogether to give themselves a competitive edge. Once cut, these strings would fall on residents or those in the vicinity and inflict fatal injuries, specifically on those riding motorcycles.

In 2005, after 19 people were killed and numerous injuries were reported, the Supreme Court of Pakistan banned kite flying in the province. Thereafter, the Punjab government introduced a law prohibiting vendors from selling kites and manufacturing kite related paraphernalia.

Those found guilty of violating the laws can be imprisoned for three years or fined Rs40,000 or both. Local authorities also announced cash rewards for those who would provide information on vendors selling and manufacturing kites and kite flying material.

However, the ban also left hundreds of thousands of people unemployed. Mochi Gate area in the old city of Lahore was once the epicentre of buying and selling kites and related materials. Now, people can hardly find a single store selling kites.

Despite the efforts made by the government, enthusiastic kite flyers somehow still manage to get their hands on the banned strings. As a result, kite related tragedies have continued to be reported in Lahore. Earlier this month, 13 people were arrested for violating the ban in Punjab.

In December last year, Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan said that the government was debating lifting the ban on kite flying in February 2019. The announcement was welcomed by some, but others challenged the decision in the Lahore High Court (LHC), arguing that kite flying had turned into a bloody sport which has claimed several lives.

Local activists believe that the onus is on the government to provide security to citizens. They believe the ban deprives citizens a form of cultural recreation. However, a large number of people remain opposed to the festival.

“I hope no one will ever be a victim of or witness a tragedy caused by kite strings. In the past, emergency rooms would be full of wounded people during the kite flying season,” said Asad Khan, who was seriously injured when a stray kite string lacerated his arm and neck.

Khan said that he cannot support this festival as it stands until the government ensures that dangerous strings are not used and that kite flyers understand that their enjoyment can potentially result in serious injury, even death.

Saad Chaudhry, a writer who ran an awareness campaign among kite flyers, said, “We really have no one to blame except ourselves for this ban,” adding that it is the collective failure of the entire society which has forced authorities to take action.

He urged the government to devise a strategy for celebrating basant instead of banning it permanently. Society has lost the essence of a great festival that once used to bring people together, spread joy and relieve tension and depression among the public, he said.

The All Pakistan Kite Association also appealed to the government and the court to bring back the festival, suggesting that special kite flying zones be established outside cities to mitigate the risk of injuries in urban settings.

Late last month, the LHC ruled that the government could permit kite flying only when it has prepared and taken all the necessary measures to ensure that no one can use illegal kite-related accessories.