Patangbaazi and fireworks: I-Day festivities in Purani Dilli

The tunes of patriotic songs filling the air, shops selling flags, kites and tricoloured trinkets, and calls of aai-bo-kaate echoing from rooftops is not unsual on the Independence anniversary in Purani Dilli. On the 78th Independence Day, Delhiites and tourists got a flavour of the traditional festivities as they indulged in patangbaazi and witnessed fireworks lining the skyline, with anthropologist and storyteller Anas Khan. From stepping into Mirza Ghalib ki Haveli in Ballimaran (the lane that was home to boat rowers in the 1860s), then walking up to the British Town Hall, that was originally built as a boutique hotel by Shah Jahan's daughter Jahanara - stories of historic moments that the gallis and kuchas of Purani Dilli have witnessed, were shared as a part of the walk. On the terrace of a mall in Chandni Chowk, participants picked up tiranga kites and tried their hand at patangbaazi, and concluded the Swatantrata Diwas evening lighting the floating laterns, hoping for a forever azaad nation.

from Times of India https://ift.tt/GwPgtv5