It was a lovely day inspite of the weather forecast for early showers. Sydney siders had fun at a Fair held in the open grounds of Sydney Olympic Park on May 28. The colourful event was organised by Jazbah International , a Pakistani youth organisation registered as a charity in Australia. Families enjoyed the popular Pakistani and Indian foods Papri chat, samosas, Chana Bhatura, Chicken tikka and Lahori fish with crispy jalebis. People of all ages including children, youth and elders enthusiastically participated in flying colourful kites as they reminisced about the much loved Basant festival held back home.
The theme was of Basant, a popular festival celebrated in both India and Pakistan by flying colourful kites amidst merry making. This colourful festival Basant is held in most cities in both Indian and Pakistani Punjab. In Pakistan it is celebrated with vigour in the historical city of Lahore. In Pakistani towns and cities, where there is less open space, terraces and rooftops are often used for the kite competitions. It is more colourful in the old city of Lahore where everyone wears yellow clothes and flies kites from the rooftops. People from different cities travel to Lahore, where kite flying begins at dawn and continues until dusk. Friends, neighbours and visitors battle one another for victory and cries of triumph fill the air when one cuts the kite string of the other kite flyer. Special songs are played at the occasion as men gather on the rooftops. Special treats are organised and it is an occasion to laugh, eat and be playful.
