LAHORE – Winter’s tail end has just begun and the sun glows warmly much to the relief of Lahore, after an almost freezing winter season. With a slight rise in temperatures, the public has started to filter out of their homes, visiting nearby parks and other outdoor places. One of these frequently visited parks is Lawrence Gardens.
Virtually abandoned in the gloomy and dreary coldness of December and early January, the Lawrence Gardens, now officially known as Bagh-e-Jinnah, are now once again filled with people as evenings begin. Unbearable temperatures in the heart of winter left people shivering inside their homes with the heaters on, but now as Spring approaches, flowers are starting to bloom, and amid the lush greenery of the stretching lawns, happy children are seen playing with each other.
SEE HOW THE CHILDREN PLAY TOGETHER…
It is not just the children who are playing, and Lawrence Gardens is generous enough to hold within itself several groups of young men playing sports of their own choice. On one side, a group of six play volley ball, proud of being admired by the few benchers who sit lazily enjoying the game along with the evening sun. On the opposite side are some others playing cricket, shouting out victory shots, or calling to their team mates for more action.
Meanwhile, in a different part of the park, couples watch affectionately seeing their children play on the swings. “It is definitely a pleasure to be here once again,” says Rukhsana, a mother of four, who has come with her husband and children. “My children were quite disappointed and used to be moping about the house all throughout the winters.”
Another mother of two says she can join her friends here while their children play together. “Its good for the children,” she says. “Instead of sitting around collecting energy inside themselves and playing video games, they have healthy outdoor sports and this park is beautiful in the evenings.”
SUN-DRENCHED STUDY…
Even the students who visit the library are now seen sitting on the steps instead of huddling up indoors, among the books. Younus and Amna are both from Punjab University and come here every evening for referential reading on their subject.
“The library is a good one, but it is so much more fun to be sitting outside and reading while facing the park and the flowers,” says Amna. “Winters are a bore.”
SOMETHING MORE THAN TEA PERHAPS…
The next most crowded place is the canteen. Restaurant managers say that service was very slow in the last couple of months. “Only a few groups would actually brave through the winters to come and sit here,” says one manager. “We were surprised they had come too, but then we found out they did not want to break their tradition of meeting here at Lawrence Gardens since the last ten years.”
Of course tea would sell the most as well as hot, freshly fried foods. “These are what people usually crave for in the colder months,” says Razzak, a waiter. “And they want nothing to do with cold drinks of any kind,” he grins.
THEY ARE OUT TOO…
At the turning of winter, even the birds are seen, bathing in the muddy puddles of a freshly watered lawn. Crows in huge flocks come and splash around in the puddles, their dark feathers fluffed around them after a luxurious bath. Mynahs and sparrows tweet out songs in happiness, and squirrels run around carrying foods from one tree to the other. Spring is fervently awaited by many.
