As scores of people left the city by Sunday night to celebrate Eid with their families in their respective villages and in other towns, others who stayed back celebrated with traditional fervour. Meat from sacrificial animals was distributed among friends and relatives, and housewives were busy in their kitchens. But on the third day of Eid, while many had not returned to Lahore from other districts, Lahoris themselves began to trickle out of their homes to enjoy picnics outside.
The regular picnic spots were frequented, in particular the Lahore Zoo and the Lawrence Gardens. In fact the number of people who showed up for an evening out caused a serious traffic mess on these parts of Mall Road. The Traffic Police could be seen lifting up cars parked on the Mall illegally and transporting them away, while despite traffic rules, rickshaws remained parked outside Lawrence Gardens, one behind the other, causing problems for the commuters. Besides this, pedestrians, and motorcycles also created a rush on the road.
Inside the lawns, families sat on the grass eating snacks, watching children play on swings and chatting amongst themselves. “This is the only form of entertainment that we get on any occasion so we come here whenever there are long holidays,” says Shabana a housewife. “We mostly come for the children who need their exercise and fresh air.”“I am relieved to get out of the house after these two days of Baqr Eid,” says another housewife, who says she spent most of the time chopping up meat in the kitchen, making packets and cleaning up. “It was not much fun for me but I’m glad that we are out now and are having fun,” she said. Thursday would be a day for many to head back to work while those who had left the city would also start coming back. The third day was celebrated with spirit and joy as people cling to a few of the last holidays of the season.
