Lahore celebrates Basant today

[Naveed Yaseen]

* String, kites selling at double rates ahead of Basant
* Kite Flying Association official says kite, string supply low due to late Basant announcement
* Kite flyers lament high prices

By Nauman Tasleem

LAHORE: The city will celebrate Basant today (Sunday).

Kites and string were selling at almost double their normal rates on Saturday as people rushed to buy supplies to celebrate Basant, resulting in short supply against increased demand.

Kite flying enthusiasts told Daily Times the prices for string had doubled from 2007, with string that had been available for Rs 1,000 two years ago selling from Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,000 this year. Similarly, kites that were available for Rs 10-25 the last time Basant was celebrated were available for Rs 25-45 this year. However, despite the high prices, a massive shortage of both items was witnessed throughout the city.

Following the confirmation of Basant celebrations on Saturday night and Sunday morning, kite shops opened in the afternoon, with people rushing to purchase last minute supplies. Shops in Ichhra, Mozang, Samanabad, Iqbal Town, Sabzazar, Awan Town, Township and Mustafabad also opened in the afternoon but were completely sold out within minutes. Shops in the Walled City were the primary stops for most residents, with people from several different areas of the city approaching these shops as they managed to have sufficient stock to supply their customers until evening.

Low supply: Kite Flying Association General Secretary Sheikh Saleem said the kite and string supply had been fairly low as Basant was announced only a few days ago. He said it was not possible for kite and string manufacturers to arrange for sufficient stock in such a short time. “Normally, the demand on Basant requires two to three months of preparation. This was not possible this year,” he said, adding the kites being sold in the city are from old stock.

Ziaullah Panu, a kite salesman, said there were no patangs (large kites) available in the market, adding only guda (medium kites) had been on sale. He said charkhis (string spools) were also available. He said he had earned a large profit off the charkhis due to the high demand. He said most kite sellers had raised their prices to recover losses incurred during the years kite flying was banned. “Last time, police confiscated stock worth Rs 50,000 and I have managed to recover half my losses today,” he said.

Bad weather: Kite flyers told Daily Times they had searched for kites and string in the Walled City but had been unable to buy sufficient items due to the high prices. “I had to buy a charkhi for Rs 1,800 this year when the same product is available for Rs 1,000 most days,” said Shahzad Ahmed Butt of Rehmanpura. He said it was unfortunate the weather was not more favourable for flying kites, adding the wind speed was very slow.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg13_1