It was reminiscent of the kind of celebrations we see around the world on the New Year’s Eve. On the stroke of midnight of August 13, a fireworks display dazzled millions of people glued to their TV screens across Lahore, as Pakistan entered its 74^th year of independence. Some had the good fortune to watch the show live, against the city’s skyline, followed by loud cheers. The roads were mostly taken up by mobs of overzealous youths, holding buntings in their hands and riding their beastly motorbikes. You could hear the screech of the bikes’ tyres and the revving of engine from a mile off. While the folks in your friendly neighbourhood blew up little firecrackers, and hoisted the country’s flag.

Perhaps, the most spectacular part of the Independence Day celebrations is the illumination of public and historic buildings. This year too, we saw a Wapda House and Lahore Fort, for instance, in all their glory; decked up in colourful lights like never before.