Being a Lahori is not just a right of passage, having lived in the city or having been born here. To be a true hardcore Lahori you need to embody the persona of Lahore, you need to have Lahore flowing through your veins and you need to eat, speak and sleep Lahore.
Here are some experiences that you will only have if you’re a true Lahori:
1. You’ve had food with a view of the Badshahi Masjid more times than you can count
2. You’ve ventured into old Lahore and ended it with a late night dinner at purani Anarkali
3. You have seen an actual stage drama at Alhamra
4. You know which one is the actual authentic Butt Karahi
5. Getting stuck in the MM Alam Road/ Liberty traffic has become a norm for you
6. You have your preferred flavor of Chaman’s
Mango ice cream, ftw
7. Treasure hunting at Anarkali is an activity that you really look forward to
8. You’ve driven up and down MM Alam for an hour, deciding a place to eat but end up at Zouk
9. Spending a lazy weekend morning at Racecourse Park is one of your cherished memories
10. You know that gol gappay and samosa chaat from Regal is the best
11. Going to Hafeez Center to buy the new iPhone and having quarreled over car parking is something you still remember
12. You’ve actually spent all your money at Gulberg Galleria
This could be for steaks at the Gun Smoke or blowing it up for an Elan outfit.
13. You’ve found some great khussay and jhumkay in Liberty
14. And you’ve been fighting people over Alamgir vs Paradise cones
15. Getting food poisoning from shawarmas in H-block is something that still never deters you from ordering Cock n’ Bull
16. You’ve been taunted for your Lahori accent
17. Eating peanuts on the terrace in the cold is your favorite winter pastime
18. Going to a rave on Bedian is a legend many have heard and only a few have experienced
19. Getting stuck on the discovery ride at Joyland is your biggest nightmare
20. You love the rush for Mehndi and chooriyan on chand raat at Liberty market
21. Breakfast at Gawalmandi is your favorite outing
22. You take all your foreign relatives to Wagah Border
23. Endless winter weddings is the most ULTIMATE Lahori experience
24. Food Festivals
25. You know all the best poondi outside Hotspot…and even better poondi at Mall 1
26. You love boasting about Lahore’s history
27. Taking a dip in the canal has been your biggest desires
28. You absolutely LOVE eating grato with garam chai
29. Cussing out people during traffic jams in Punjabi makes you feel ALIVE
30. You still remember the beautiful Kalma Chowk that was before this “Paris jaisa underpass”
31. But what makes you a TRUE LAHORI is constantly arguing with Karachiites that Lahore is better
So, are you a true Lahori?
cover image via: interamerica.org