Despite a government restriction to prevent accidents and fatalities, the Rawalpindi Kite Flying Association (RKFA) has announced preparations to celebrate Basant, the traditional spring festival of kite flying, in Rawalpindi city and Cantt districts.
The kite flying festivities will commence in Rawalpindi Cantt on February 9 and in Rawalpindi City on February 16, coinciding with the Happy New Year celebrations, according to RKFA Vice-Chairman Iqbal and Joint Secretary Iqrar Mehmood. Basant night, a unique event in which white kites are flown after sunset would be conducted on February 8 in Rawalpindi Cantt and on February 16 in Rawalpindi city, lasting till 1 a.m., they added.
According to RKFA officials, they have prepared 3.5 million kites and 1.5 million kite lines for the event, and they would not cancel the celebration even if it rains on Basant day, but will instead postpone it to the following Friday. They further stated that air shooting would be prohibited and that only drums would be used for musical entertainment.
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Since 2007, the Punjab government has prohibited Basant, claiming safety concerns and legal issues. The kite flying community and the kite manufacturing sector have strongly resisted the prohibition, claiming that Basant is a cultural legacy and a source of income for many people.
The decision, while predictable, has prompted severe worries about public safety, particularly for motorcyclists and those traveling at night.
On the other hand, despite police searches and the recovery of significant amounts of prohibited kite-flying equipment, the sale of kites and strings is reaching new heights.
Kite flyers from Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Gujarat, and Jhelum will also arrive in Rawalpindi on Thursday, according to reports.
Meanwhile, fear of police crackdowns has fueled the selling of kites and strings on social media sites. Due to inflation, kite dealers have increased the pricing of kites and strings from 50 to 70% this year.
A regular bundle of kite string costs between Rs2,200 and Rs4,000, while a smaller one costs between Rs1,000 and Rs1,800. Similarly, a standard-sized kite costs Rs100 to Rs150, a medium kite costs Rs250, and a high-quality kite costs Rs400 to Rs500.
Kites and strings are only swapped surreptitiously with acquaintances and on the advice of known ones.
According to Pakistani sources, the kites arrive in Rawalpindi from Peshawar, Abbottabad, Gujarat, and Gujranwala.
They claim that kite-flying supplies are delivered early in the morning in trucks loaded with veggies and fruits. They stated that kites and strings are transported to Rawalpindi city and Cantt early in the morning from Murree, Islamabad, and Haripur.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan prohibited the celebrations in 2005 after 19 people, most of whom were children, were murdered and hundreds were injured during the festivities, citing ‘the event morphed into a deadly activity’ as the cause. This decision was executed by the Punjab provincial administration in 2007.
Strings might sever the throats of bicyclists or pedestrians.
Meanwhile, the district police claimed to have made every effort to halt the activities at all costs. The Dolphin Force, they stated, will patrol the city streets on motorcycles, looking for offenders.
According to reports, if kite fliers and their parents are participating in the prohibited behavior, the police will file charges against them.
They also stated that the police will work with mosques to educate the people about the dangers of kite flying.
According to sources, a considerable number of police officers would be deployed to prevent Basant night.
Despite arrests, case registration, and extensive public awareness campaigns, the police appear impotent to stop the kite-flying aficionados.
Every day after 11 a.m., the skies over the garrison city are filled with kites of all sizes and forms.
