"L'ore, L'ore aei" "“ ("Lahore, Lahore hai", Lahore is Lahore) "“ boisterously declares the lahori, that is the Lahorite. If you are taken a little aback, then hold on and listen further to his vainglory: "Jiney L'ore nei wekhia oh jamia nei", meaning thereby "˜jisnay Lahore nehi dekha woh paida hi nahi huwa!'- who has not yet seen Lahore, has not yet taken birth!! What a rambunctious and offending remark! What a boasting!!
But "˜Baadshaw' ("˜baadshah', king), wait a minute. Don't get offended, don't get angered. These boasting, if at all, are not to offend you, or to alienate you. Rather, these are to make you closer and worm, friendly and own. And "˜baadshaw', if you are made the king, then don't consider the others your subject, consider them the same, give them in the same coin.
Lahories are said to be very jolly, friendly, worm and open-hearted. If you ever go to elsewhere and ask to some passerby or the shopkeeper for direction, you may get some cold shoulder, because they have to mind their business. If you ask a Rawalpindi man, then you might get some confusing picture of your destination (Islamabad has not developed a clear characteristic as yet in this regard) and might be beating your luck. But if you have landed on a Lahore road, and asked someone for the direction, then you are in for a treat! The wise guy on the Lahore road will try his heart out to make the way very clear to you. But if still you are not clear, then very high chance is, he would take you with him and post you at the very doorstep of your destination.
These Lahories, for their warmth and open-heartedness, are called by the rest of the country as "˜zinda dil-anay Lahore', the lively hearted (people) of Lahore. And quite "˜zinda dil' they really are!
One of the extravagant proofs of their "˜zinda dilee' is their celebration of "basant", welcoming the spring season. The "˜basant' festival is declared in the first weekend of the month of February, when the hard cold is on the retreat, and the spring is gradually on its way. The preparations are started much before, much meticulously, enthusiastically, ludicrously and extravagantly. Among the long time preparations are, making of kites in millions, preparing the thread, called "˜dor' with appropriate "˜manjha' for deadly "˜pench' and all other "˜dhol-dhamakka'. Some expatriate Lahories also return this time to participate in this extravaganza.
If I talk about the Lahories, then can I miss to say anything about their eating habits? No, not at all! These Lahories are compulsive eater, they are ceremonially gluttonic. They start eating heavily from breakfast till the time of going to bed. But one thing is very good about these people, not only the Lahories but also the other people, that they are very much aware of the food value and food effects. They are too much fussy about "˜good food' and "˜bad food'. They would consciously try to nullify the effect of "˜bad food' by taking some more "˜good food'. In the beginning I used to get very much irritated by these "˜unscientific' views of theirs. But now I think, they have got the weight in it. They would take heavy, spicy food with impunity, but to counter the effect of spices they would surely take plenty of plain yogurts. Likewise, after taking spicy food they would almost surely take a cup of "˜qehwa' other name of which is green tea or Chinese tea. According to them this drink is a must to cleanse your food pipe of "˜charbis' (fats). Recent researches have also proven that, this green tea is a good antidote for stomach cancer. Similarly, with heavy dose of mango, they would prescribe a glass of "˜kachchi lassi' made of plain milk (yes, I shall bear the witness that, in this dry weather, mango is very hot, which creates uneasy heat in your stomach!).
There are so many items in their menu, all spicy, robust, heavy and mouth-watering, that it would need another write-up to describe them all. There are kababs of various types, "˜chargha', tikkas of mutton and chicken, "˜karhai gosht' or "˜karhai murghi', "˜chappli kakab', and "paayai" in the winter etc., et., etc!!!
But the dish, with the mention of which, the mouths of not only the Lahories but also the other Punjabis (of particularly rice growing belt) become full of water is, guess what "“ nothing but simple "˜daal-chawal'. They are very ecstatic about this "˜daal-chawal'. This is not always available everywhere, but in some places occasionally. That's why it's so precious!
A lot is said about Lahore, but nothing as yet about its historical heritages, like Shalimar Garden, Badshahi Mosque, Badshahi Fort, Emperor Jahangir/Noorjahan/Asif Jah's mausoleum, Qutbuddin Aibak's grave etc. etc. The less said on these is probably the best, because the maintenance of heritage is not probably in our vein. So, if one wishes to visit Lahore, then please do not see the things of past, but to meet the people of the present!!!
(July 4, 2003 6:34 AM)