For 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 30 days a month, and 365 days a year, Lahore is awake. The day here begins long before the sun rises, and as the darkness fades, Lahore appears even more beautiful in the light. In the morning, you can hear the sizzling sound of halwa puri frying in oil at some places, while elsewhere, people can be seen enjoying a hearty breakfast of siri paya (trotters) with hot and flavorful broth. If you prefer something else, you can also find naan chana, a dish that tastes unlike anywhere else in Pakistan.
From the very beginning, Lahore has been famous for its lively spirit. Whoever comes here becomes a part of it and cannot escape its charm. No matter where you go in the world, you will never forget the memories of Lahore, the evenings spent there, the nights, and the days that begin with the rising sun. The people of Lahore have a deep love for food. In every street, neighborhood, and market, you will find someone eating something. This love for food begins even before dawn, when people are seen waiting for Ustad Manno’s siri paya shop to open in Chamra Mandi, Lahore. His shop opens even before the Fajr prayer, and with the sound of the Allah Akbar call to prayer, the breakfast is sold out, and the shop closes. His breakfast, which includes trotters and brain masala, is incredibly delicious.
If you’re late and missed breakfast, don’t worry! There are still plenty of options. You can enjoy a delicious breakfast of chanay (chickpeas) from Ustad Mota Ji, or if you’re not in the mood for chickpeas, there’s also the option of halwa puri. Although there are many famous names in halwa puri, my favorite is Sadiq Halwa Puri on Shama Road, Ichhra, or Taj Mahal Halwa Puri in the old city of Lahore. The special thing about these two places is that they also offer khoya halwa, which is unparalleled in taste. And it would be a great injustice to enjoy such a delicious breakfast without a glass of lassi. For lassi, your first choice should be Jeeda Lassi in the old city or Fiqay ki Lassi.
A unique thing about Lahore is that it never lets anyone go hungry. Many anonymous people came here with no home to live in and no food to eat, surviving by sleeping on the sidewalks. Lahore gave these people a name, an identity, and respect. Today, the world knows them. Some of these people include notable figures like Tariq Aziz and Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, who have acknowledged that Lahore is responsible for their success.
When the festival of Basant traveled from the land of India to Lahore, Lahore gave it such prominence that history has no parallel. The way Lahoris celebrated Basant became so famous that people from all over the world came to Lahore to witness it. On this day, it felt like Eid in every household, with women dressed in yellow, wearing bangles, and celebrating the festival. The sky would be filled with colorful kites, and in the joy of cutting a kite, young men would be seen dancing to the beat of drums. In the evening, the smell of barbecue and kebabs from the rooftops would fill the air, but sadly, this grand festival has come to an end.
While researching Lahore, I was astonished to find that not only do people from Pakistan but even those from India are enamored with Lahore. Several Indian songs mention Lahore, and those songs became very popular. The reason lies in the culture of Lahore. You will find different eras represented here, whether it’s Mughal culture, Sikh culture, Hindu culture, or others. This one city showcases them all simultaneously. In the old city, you will still find ancient houses, mansions, gurdwaras, and temples that remind you of bygone eras.
Lahoris have a special quality: they respect not only their own religion but also other religions. Whether you go to Ichhra, Anarkali, Rang Mahal, or Shalimar, you will see Hindu and Sikh traders along with Muslim ones, and all these people feel completely safe and are running their businesses freely. In fact, I am a witness to the unique respect and love that non-Muslims receive here, which you won’t find anywhere else.
The culture of this city, nestled along the banks of the Ravi River, spans centuries. The recent Indian film Heeramandi takes its name from Lahore’s Heera Mandi area, which was named after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s adopted son, Heera Singh, who once had a mansion here. It is from this that the area was named Heera Mandi, and today Sanjay Leela Bhansali has drawn inspiration from this name for his film, which is now reaching the heights of fame.
Lahore has always been a favorite land of saints and mystics. Many prominent religious figures are buried here, including Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, Hazrat Mian Mir Hassan, Hazrat Baba Shah Jamal, and many others. These saints elevated Lahore spiritually, and the people of Lahore gave them such respect that no king could ever attain. On one side of the Ravi River lies the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, and on the other side, the shrine of the great saint Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh. The level of respect and devotion can be easily gauged by the number of pilgrims who visit.
Lahore has also always been the center of political activity. Major political decisions of Pakistan are made here by political pundits, and to win over the people of Lahore, politicians carry out various developmental projects. The first metro bus service and orange train project in Pakistan were completed in Lahore, and today, thousands of people in Lahore use these transport services daily to reach their destinations at a low cost. Additionally, signal-free roads, flyovers, and underpasses provide excellent travel facilities.
Lahore is also known as the city of schools, colleges, and universities. Some of Pakistan's most famous educational institutions are located in Lahore, including Punjab University, the University of Engineering and Technology, Government College Lahore, Islamia College, Civil Lines College, and many others that quench the thirst for knowledge. As a result, Lahore’s literacy rate is nearly 70%.
Some of Pakistan's major hospitals, including Mayo Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital, Gulab Devi Hospital, and Services Hospital, offer free medical services to the public, and the government provides free medicines as well. Due to all these qualities, Lahore is the first choice for everyone, and people prefer to come and live in Lahore. And Lahore, like a mother, embraces them with open arms, and those who come here end up becoming a part of this city.
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