e celebrate Independence Day in a certain way, year after year, officially as well as on an individual level. Traditionally, it begins with a 21-gun salute at the provincial headquarters, followed by a parade and flag hoisting. Later, there is a change of guards at the Mazar-i-Iqbal. Radio and TV channels play national songs all day, and various cultural organisations come up with colourful programmes.

For the common people, it’s a day when the young would bring home jhandiyan (small, paper flags), and arrange fireworks. Some like to paint their faces in the colours of the national flag. The marketplaces, particularly in the Walled City, are filled with the Independence Day merchandise. There is festivity in the air.

As the night falls, the enthusiastic Lahoris take to the roads, mostly to check out the illuminations. For adventurous boys, it’s that time of the year when they must ride their bikes and do their stunts. Whether they get away with it or they don’t is another story altogether.