I am sure the sentiments of the thousands of people who were looking forward to flying kites during during Basant are a little more than upset today. The Supreme Court in Pakistan has ruled that even though the Punjab provincial government had lifted the ban the ban is till in place and there will not be any kite flying at this years festival.

By IANS, [RxPG] Islamabad, Jan 23 – The spring festival of Basant has once again come under a cloud with the Pakistan Supreme Court disallowing kite flying, an integral part of the celebration, on grounds of safety.

The Supreme Court Monday rejected a Punjab government plea seeking permission for kite flying in the province, taking a dim view of announcements and preparations made despite the ban.

What began as a matter of concern for the safety of those who fly kites from rooftops and other risky places and as a hazard caused by the use of wire instead of traditional string has escalated into a politico-legal issue.

A large number of deaths caused by falling off rooftops while flying kites are reported each year. The use of use of wire also disrupts power supply and is known to slit throats of people, particularly children.

The bench disliked the Punjab government’s move and asked it to tell the court how many people had reportedly been killed during last year’s Basant, The News said Tuesday.

A nine-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed the Punjab chief secretary to explain why an announcement for celebrating the Basant festival was made when there was a complete ban on kite flying.

The bench summoned a record of a press conference by Planning and Development Commission Chairman Salman Ghani announcing that the Basant festival would be celebrated in the Punjab Feb 25.

The chief justice also asked the reporter of a private TV channel to provide the footage of the press conference.

Punjab Advocate General Chaudhry Aftab Iqbal told the bench that the ‘Prohibition of Kite Flying Amendment Ordinance, 2007′ had been promulgated on Jan 20. It empowered district officials to allow kite flying for a period of 15 days during the spring season.

The apex court reacted by observing: ‘It is now provincial duty to keep law and order. The Supreme Court will not become a party in this case at this stage because when people die due to kite flying, people criticise the Supreme Court. Now this time we will keep ourselves aloof and the onus for – during Basant will be on the Punjab government.’

The Supreme Court had imposed a ban on manufacturing, flying, selling and buying of kites across the country last year. The Punjab government held a Basant festival in 2006 in the name of Jashn-e-Baharan after seeking relaxation from the Supreme Court.

Source: RxPG

Photo source: Daily Times

After a few weeks of rumors it looks like Punjab province in Pakistan has temporarily lifted the ban on kite flying for the Basant festival. This is bitter sweet, as I am sure some disrespectful fliers will still use chemical, glass or metal kite line and someone will likely get hurt. On the other hand kite flying is at the heart of the Basant festival for so many in Lahore and I am glad that thousands of kites will fill the skys again.

hopefully the police will actually enforce the no meta/chemical/glass line law and those who do still insist on using it are caught and they get the full penalty. When the ban was initially imposed last year the police were all but turning a blind eye to people flying kites.

Yahoo news writes

By ASIF SHAHZAD, Associated Press Writer
Thu Jan 4, 4:36 PM ET

LAHORE, Pakistan – Pakistani provincial authorities on Thursday lifted a ban on kite-flying imposed a year ago after several bystanders were fatally slashed by glass-coated strings used in the competitions.

The move came a month ahead of Basant, an annual festival that heralds spring and is marked by boisterous parties and the flying of colorful kites in the eastern province of Punjab and its capital, Lahore.

Fliers strengthen their kite strings with wire or glass, sometimes with bloody consequences, to give them an advantage in duels where competitors try to cut each others’ strings.

Even before last year’s festival got into full swing, seven people were fatally slashed, prompting authorities — with limited success — to ban kite-flying. They arrested hundreds who defied the regulation.

Among the dead was a 4-year-old boy whose throat was slit by a string coated with glass as he rode on a motorcycle with his father.

Salman Ghani, chairman of Punjab’s planning and development department, said the ban will be lifted during this year’s festival, scheduled for Feb. 25.

Glass-coated or metal strings will be prohibited, Ghani said, and authorities will issue licenses for selling kites and strings. Kites larger than 2-feet-by-2-feet will not be allowed, to prevent the use of heavy strings.

Offenders will face up to four years in jail or a fine of $1,800, Ghani said, adding that the kite-flying ban will be reimposed after the festival.

The Basant festival has been celebrated in Lahore for centuries. Basant means “yellow” in the Hindi language, a reference to the fields of blooming flowers that grace the area as spring approaches.

Islamic hard-liners in predominantly Muslim Pakistan oppose Basant because they consider it a Hindu festival.

Some more pictures of the Basant festival from Flickr…

This is an awesome Flickr photo set from flickr user “AhMaD RoXx in VanCouVer’s”.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81473005@N00/sets/72057594056233074/

Kite flying in Pakistan has been a touchy subject over the last couple of years. The government is now trying to come up with a way to allow its citizens to participate while making it safe for the general public.

I think no matter what happens some people will still insist on using “manja” type line or even worse wire or chemically treated mono-filament line…

“The Pakistani News Paper wrote

China Daily has a story about a kite stopping air traffic at an airport in China. Hmmm I am curious why they just didn’t go out and cut it out of the sky… very very expensive kite

Airport closed due to mystery kite
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-10-24 08:48

A kite forced the closure of Zhanjiang International Airport for half a day after it was found flying near the runway in the Guangdong port city over the weekend.

The incident took place at about 6:15 pm on Saturday, when a 2-metre-long kite was seen flying in the sky only 200 metres away from the runway.

After failing to locate the people who were flying the kite, the airport authority had to close the airport down. Two departing flights and four arrivals had to be cancelled or diverted to other airports, and 477 passengers were left stranded in airport waiting rooms overnight.

The airport returned to normal operation 12 hours later on the early Sunday morning when the kite fell into farmland nearby.

Guangzhou Daily

Correction: I would like to point out that there is an error in the report below.

The FAA have stopped Richard Crawford’s attempt at breaking the world kite altitude record.

the NPTelegraph writes, click here for the whole story

CALLAWAY – Just days before Richard Crawford was to attempt the world record for kite height, the Federal Aviation Administration put the brakes on his plans.
Crawford, from Milliken, Colo., had planned to put his homemade kite 15,000 feet into the air Saturday at the Callaway Kite Flight.
He thought he had been given the proper FAA clearance and was looking forward to the event. He even had sponsorship lined up to help fund it.
Saturday winds probably would have cooperated, but the issue of air travel safety prevailed. Crawford said he was disappointed but will continue to try to find a way to set the record.
He said it has been suggested that he work with the military in an area already classified as a “no-fly zone.” The closest such location to his home is in Guernsey, Wyo.
The current record for kite height is 13,509 feet set by a Canadian in 1995.