Christmas celebrations peak

LAHORE: A large number of Lahorites especially from the Christian community thronged public parks as Sunday had turned into a long weekend due to the Christmas holiday today (Monday).

Following the expected rush of citizens at public parks, strict security measures were also taken by Lahore police. Besides all the public parks, other recreational places, restaurants and food spots also witnessed heavy influx of general public especially in the evening.

Churches started preparation for Christmas celebrations on Monday (today). Candles are used in churches to start Christmas celebrations as Christians believed that Jesus is the light of the world, said Father Andrew.Churches were nicely decorated and filled with flowers, which represent new life and priests wear their best, brightest robes in celebration. A rush was also observed at city’s big and small churches throughout the day. Strict security has been provided at churches and other gathering places across the city.

People also used social media and SMS service to send Christmas greetings to their friends and families while several companies, restaurants, food spots and recreational places also announced special deals for the event and advertised those on social media to attract customers.

Christian community members visited Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park to pay tribute to those who were martyred in suicide bombing inside the park on the eve of Easter. They laid flowers at the place where a suicide bomb martyred over 80 people, including children and women on 27 March, 2016.

“How can I forget this day,” said Sana, who added she lost her mother on last Easter at the same place. She said she escaped death during the incident because she went to washroom just some minutes back when the incident took place. “Me and my family came at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park to give a clear message to extremist forces that Pakistan is our country and we are not afraid of them,” said Marian Jacob. She said last year’s Easter bombing sent a very negative image of the country to the world. She, however, said that action of Pakistan Army against terrorists was very satisfactory and she hoped that very soon the country will get rid of these terrorists.

On the other hand, a rush of people was seen at public parks and other recreational places, including Lahore Zoo, Lahore Fort, Greater Iqbal Park, Jallo Park and etc. Following the rush of people on city roads, traffic jams also occurred at key points like Bagh-e-Jinnah, Dubai Chowk, Scheme Morr, Bhekhywal, Jail Road, Taj Bagh, Tajpura, Dharampura, Mughalpura, Model Town, Shadman and Jallo Park.

Lawrence Road was jam packed with vehicles and one can witness cars and motorcycles parked here from one end starting from Queen’s Road and ending at China Chowk. The extraordinary rush of people also gave opportunity to the adulteration mafia, which remained busy in selling substandard edibles at public places. Many people complained about substandard food quality to the administration of different parks and Zoo officials but mostly complaints were overheard.