The Paris Kite Club, owned by Pakistanis, hosted a two-day friendly kite-flying competition in France. The event was held at the beach and teams from Britain, Spain, as well as France participated in the event.

Kite flying was a prominent part of Lahore’s culture and marked the advent of Spring in the province but the sport was banned in Punjab in 2007. The decision was taken after people lost their lives due to the strings of kites being soaked in chemicals that would not only cut the other kite’s thread but also ended up giving people, who accidentally walked through them, lacerations.

Reports of people, especially young men, falling off of roofs would also escalate when the festival of Basant was celebrated.

The competition saw at least 300 pechas (tussles between kites) in the sky.

The British team was comprised of 30 members, while 12 members participated from Spain.

In the end, prizes were given to the best players and team.

The event was held to celebrate Basant and the arrival of Spring but more importantly to keep the tradition and culture around the sport alive abroad.