05 February 2005	Saturday	25 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Feb 4: Preparations for Basant reached their zenith in Lahore on Friday, as hundreds of thousands of people from outstation and abroad have reached here for the 24-hour festivities beginning on Saturday night.

Shops selling kites and twine were drawing great rush of people, who bought the required stocks despite the high prices. There was a great rush of people at such shops in and around the Walled City, a nerve centre of Basant, and almost everywhere in the expanding metropolis.

People also bought fireworks and bugles for the 24-hour Basant festivities and placed orders for traditional food. The city's main streets have been decorated with tin kites and colourful arches. Illumination of the main roads and buildings gives a bridal look to Lahore.

All hotels and guest houses have been booked by people from outstation. Many more people would stay with their relatives and friends. The guests include some Indian film stars like Shatroo Ghan Sinha.

Several diplomats from other countries staying in Islamabad, political personages, senior civil and military officials and top businessmen in the country are expected to witness Basant festivities this time in different parts of the city.

The festivities will start on Saturday night and continue till Sunday evening. Saturday, being a holiday on account of the Kashmir Day, is expected to turn into a mini-Basant.

Like in the recent past, the Parks and Horticulture Authority, tourism department and the district governments are actively preparing for Basant. The PHA would arrange a Basant night function at the historic Asif Jah Haveli inside Chuney Mandi. Similar grand functions would be held at the Barood Khana Haveli of Mian Yousaf Salahuddin and Rang Mahal's parking plaza.

The Ravi Town administration has planned a dinner at the Delhi Gate's Shahi Hamam. It is already illuminating Kashmiri Bazaar from Delhi Gate to the Paaniwala Taalab every night. Historic Masjid Wazir Khan is also tastefully illuminated.

Multinational companies and the moneyed people of Lahore have booked the rooftops of big plazas and houses in the Walled City. Five-star hotels too are making arrangements for the Basant festivities.

Meanwhile, a private TV channel organized a Basant-related music function at the Punjab Civil Secretariat which was the first of its kind on the premises over 150-year history. The kite-flying contests being arranged by the PHA at the Racecourse Park continued and witnessed by a large number of people.