Eid Miladun Nabi celebrations in Pakistan this year were unlike anything the nation had ever seen before, especially the lantern show held at the Margalla hills on Tuesday night.
Prime Minister Imran Khan last week urged Pakistanis to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in an “unprecedented manner” this year. Pakistanis around the country, and the government, both rose to the challenge.
The Capital Administration celebrated the day with the large-scale release of sky lanterns atop the Margalla Hills on the foothills of the capital. Lantern show was held in support with Capital Development Authority (CDA) and city administration.
The largest lantern show
Additional Deputy Commissioner for Islamabad Rana Waqas called it the “largest lantern show” in Islamabad.
In images and videos shared on social media, citizens and police officials could be seen releasing hundreds of lanterns into the night sky.
PM’s Tiger force was among the main organizers of the event, helping people fire the lanterns while making sure fire protocols were followed.
Residents of Islamabad call it “Utter Fail”
Though the government claimed the lantern show to be the biggest in the history, it turned out to be a small one. Residents of Islamabad took it to twitter to criticize the lantern show, calling it “Utter Fail”.
Another Twitter user said the lantern show was “far from expectation”.
Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat also agreed it wasn’t that big of a show as claimed. He, however, blamed the winds for the failure.
Winds caused delay in show
The lantern show was scheduled to begin at 8 pm sharp, but there was a significant delay. The Capital Administration cited wind as the reason behind the delay. Neon gas balloons were tied to the lanterns to ensure they fly up in the air.
Floating lanterns are used to commemorate cultural and spiritual celebrations across Asia and in various destinations around the globe with large populations of Asian descent.