Jashn-i-Baharaan in Lahore

Despite some orthodox people in Pakistan abhorring it, Basant in Lahore is celebrated with much more fanfare and colour than anywhere else today. Here are some excerpts from a 2001 news report from The Dawn, Lahore, about one such Basant. (Photos by courtesy of Samina Aslam)

LAHORE, Feb 14: The Basant Festival 2001 opened here on Wednesday evening amid great fanfare at the Race Course Park as part of the five-weeks of Jashn-i-Baharaan carnival. It has been organized jointly by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and a global beverage company.

A very large number of people were present on the occasion. The inauguration ceremony took place at around 5pm. The park was illuminated heavily with a spectrum of colourful lights. The lighting also looks good because it has been done with a lot of creativity and not merely lights put flatly on a tree or somewhere. It is evident when one watches the lighting that some thought and effort has been put to make it beautiful.

On entering from the Jail Road entrance, the first things that welcome you are the large swings, Ferris wheel and merry-go-rounds. They have been highlighted by heavy illumination and children as well as families enjoyed the rides like anything.

An arts and crafts fair has been organized that has dozens of stalls vending items like decoration pieces, kitchen ware, cutlery, crockery, ready-made clothes, unstitched cloth, clocks, watches and many other things. The most popular among these stalls, as always have been, are the ones where everything is sold for Rs. 10 or 20. That is where most of the women were seen buying a lot of stuff and when everything is already available at such a low rate, it saves them from the bargaining bit.

On the opposite side are several food stalls that were swarmed by the food lovers. The stall where saag and makaee ki roti were available attracted the largest number of visitors. Items on sale include fried fish, broast chicken, tikkas, biryani, nihari, murgh haleem, Balochi sajji and qorma. Chinese food is also available with hot and sour and chicken corn soup being the most favourite of the people.

PHA director-general Kamran Lashari said the festival would grow with each passing day. He said all the four provinces would put their stuff on display next week. Kite-flying teams from Indonesia would be coming to participate in the festival whereas kites, arts and crafts of countries like England, Mauritius and Indonesia would be put on display soon.

Musical programmes featuring various bands and solo singers would be held on daily basis. A snake house has been added for the first time to attract the people. Prominent feature of the festival were the eight stalls installed by women and social workers, he added.

Mr Lashari said special children would be invited every week to visit the festival and enjoy its festivities. The canal mela would begin on Feb 18. A world music festival would also be a part of the carnival. It would be held between March 10 and 20 at Alhamra Cultural Complex, he added.

People were enjoying the arts and crafts festival and the pleasant evening weather. The only ones who seemed slightly displeased are the regular visitors of the park who come there for walking or jogging. That is because one complete side of the park has been occupied. But one has to compromise on such occasions.

Hopefully, the festival organizers will maintain discipline in the park and keep an eye on trouble-makers. The fire balloons released into the air are the only items showing bad taste. These have not been handled properly and keep falling down on trees and stalls and there is a risk of their catching fire.

Pop singer Abrarul Haq performed at the opening concert of the festival following the opening. A large number of people enjoyed his performance and danced all evening.