SWABI: Kite flying is getting popular among youngsters in Swabi district with the arrival of the spring season.

According to people, kite flying would never die as they loved it heart and soul. They told Dawn that those who thought that flying kites was common only with Punjab were wrong because, they claimed, their ancestors used to fly kites and quite enjoy it.

The Punjab government has banned the basant festival keeping in view the deaths occurred over the years because of the use of metal string.

“We recognise the fact that the importance given to kite flying in Punjab province is not seen here. But, still we enjoy it and consider it a healthy sport,” said Liaqat Ali of Swabi city. He also rejected the impression that the practice originated from the Hindu society.

The kite flying lovers said that sport also provided many people means of livelihood. They pointed out that kite selling points had sprung up in every nook and corner of the district thanks to interest shown by everyone.

It was also observed that mostly people used chemical string with a view to bring down kites of others, but the practice posed threats to people’s lives.

Kite sellers said that people only asked for chemical string for kite flying.

Countless kites could be seen in the sky over Topi and residential colonies of Tarbela Dam, where people, including children, overwhelmingly participated in the practice.

“Despite repeated calls from my mother to come home for lunch I kept outside and flying kites and bringing down those of others,” said Obaid-ur-Rehman Khan, 16, of Topi city.

Whenever a kite’s string is severed, it starts falling, attracting children to have a run for it. “I collected seven and my friend 11 kites on Wednesday,” said Umer Shahzad Khan, 15.

However, what was missing was the loud music and lighting, which is common with kite fliers in Lahore and other cities of Punjab. “We enjoy kite-flying, but don’t play loud music and resort to fireworks whenever a kite is brought down,” said Anwar Ali.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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