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Basant returns to Lahore after nearly two decades
Lahore's skies are once again filled with colorful kites as the city revives the centuries-old Basant festival, banned in 2007 due to safety concerns. The three-day event marks the arrival of spring, drawing families and friends to rooftops across the city.
A festival of tradition and bonding
For many, this year's Basant is a first. Abu Bakar Ahmad, a 25-year-old tech engineer, struggles to keep his kite aloft, guided by his cousin. "All our generations here are very excited," he says. "The elders know how to fly a kite, but we Gen-Zers don't."
Kanwal Amin, 48, describes the festival as a celebration of community. "Flying kites is okay, but the main thing is bonding," she says. "I like watching and eating good food."
Pharmacist Kashif Siddiqui, whose last Basant was 20 years ago, now shares the tradition with his grandchildren. "It's special for Lahoris-this runs in our blood," he says. "It's not about kite and thread, it's about tradition." His aunt, Mina Sikander, 60, traveled from Miami to join the festivities. "It was worth the journey!" she exclaims.
The dangers that led to a ban
Basant's competitive spirit-knocking opponents' kites from the sky-once led to deadly innovations. Strings coated in powdered glass or metal posed severe risks, particularly to motorcyclists who could be injured by low-hanging threads. Celebratory gunfire and rooftop falls also caused fatalities.
After years of casualties, authorities banned the festival in 2007. This year's revival includes strict safety measures: large kites are prohibited, nets cover high-risk streets, and pre-festival kite sales were confiscated to prevent early flying.
Police enforce new safety rules
Lahore Police have seized over 100,000 kites and 2,100 rolls of dangerous string ahead of the event. Deputy Inspector General Faisal Kamran says drones, CCTV cameras, and officers monitor rooftops for banned materials or weapons. "We have a good view to keep a check on activities," he notes.
Motorcyclists now carry metal rods to deflect threads, and electricity wires are shielded to prevent shocks. Kamran confirms the cameras will return to monitoring roads after Basant concludes.
Economic and cultural revival
Yousaf Salahuddin, a longtime Basant advocate, recalls the festival's golden era in the 1980s, when it drew celebrities and boosted local economies. "There was a lot of revenue," he says. "It went down to the poorest-the vendors, restaurants, and artisans."
Kite seller Usman reports selling 7,000 kites in days, reflecting the festival's resurgence. For Yousaf, seeing Lahore's skies filled again is emotional. "It's always been a part of us," he says. "I don't remember the city without kites."
"I flew one last night and it got cut. So I said, 'I'm not flying anymore-I'm done!'"
Yousaf Salahuddin
