Flying Kites Illegal in Pakistan until jan 26

Christmas isn't the only holiday facing difficulties. Throughout India, Bangladesh and Pakistan kite flying has been a traditional celebration tied to the Hindu Basant festival. Like Christmas it has been generally adopted by people of differing faiths because it's fun. Pakistan has banned the practice of flying kites because many people are killed or injured and because of its Hindu roots.

From Pakistan Link:

The Supreme Court of Pakistan Friday extended the ban on kite flying till January 26 and ordered the provincial governments to implement the ban strictly.

After end of the hearing Police baton{sic}charged a mob protesting outside the court and dispersed them.

Just imagine a mob of mall walkers being batoned by police after attacking the Supreme Court for banning outdoor Christmas Lights because people get hurt putting them up and are competitive in there displays.


From BBC:

Demonstrators have clashed with police in the Pakistani city of Lahore over the Supreme Court's decision to extend a nationwide ban on kite flying.

In recent weeks more than 40 people in and around Lahore have been killed in accidents involving kite strings coated in metal or glass.

The strings are coated to break the strings of rival kites.

I never looked at kite flying as an extreme sport. Kind of like imagining full contact golf. Well they banned fireworks in some places because of stupid people, but I look at it as a kind of mass "Darwinian Award" nomination process.

Ace o Spades has other wacky holiday news.
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