Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: The city&#39;s three-day Basant festival wrapped up this week, marking the first officially supervised celebration of the spring festival in nearly 20 years.&nbsp; Aside from its cultural symbolism, the event provided measurable insights into public participation, economic activity, and the practicality of hosting large-scale traditional festivals under modern regulations. Basant has historically been central to Lahore&rsquo;s cultural identity, but concerns over safety led to its suspension in the mid-2000s. Its revival, even in a limited format, was therefore closely observed by authorities, businesses, and the public alike.&nbsp; The scale of engagement during the three days suggests sustained public demand for cultural events rooted in local tradition. Preliminary market estimates show that kite-related items alone generated sales of over Rs 2 billion, with additional revenue across the hospitality, transportation, retail, and food sectors.&nbsp; During televised remarks, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that billions of rupees in total business were recorded during the Basant period, benefiting small vendors as well as large industries, including hotels, catering services, and transport providers. Millions entered the city during the festivalMobility and tourism data further highlight the festival&rsquo;s reach.&nbsp; According to government estimates, 4-5 million people entered Lahore by road during the festival days, while nearly one million vehicles were recorded entering the city.&nbsp; Air travel to Lahore also remained fully booked, reflecting strong domestic travel demand linked to the event. To manage urban movement and accessibility, the Punjab government provided free public transportation services, which were utilized by an estimated 2.6 million passengers over the three days.&nbsp; The numbers indicate a strong reliance on public infrastructure during major cultural events and serve as a reference for future planning. First-ever Basant for young peopleSocially, the festival bridged generational gaps.&nbsp; While older residents returned to familiar customs, rooftop kite flying, traditional yellow and white clothing, and communal meals, many younger Lahoris experienced Basant for the first time. This first-time participation underscores how cultural practices can re-enter public life after long absences and regain relevance among new audiences. The event was conducted under heightened security measures, including Safe City camera monitoring, thermal drones, and coordinated surveillance.&nbsp; Authorities reported that the controlled environment allowed celebrations to proceed while addressing longstanding safety concerns associated with Basant. Foreign visitors attendedForeign visitors also participated in noticeable numbers, attending rooftop gatherings and public events. Their presence reinforced Lahore&rsquo;s image as a regional cultural destination and highlighted the festival&rsquo;s potential role in cultural tourism. Speaking to Pakistan Television Digital, David Wagner, who arrived in Lahore from Germany for a local literature festival, expressed his excitement about Basant.&nbsp; He shared his experience flying a kite and highlighted how the Basant festival can bring people together. &ldquo;I had the chance to be on a rooftop, I flew the kite myself, and I loved it,&rdquo; he said, adding, &ldquo;I like it very much to have it in spring. To celebrate and bring the community together &mdash; it&rsquo;s a wonderful thing.&rdquo; As the festival ended, Basant&rsquo;s return offered more than just nostalgia. It provided data-backed evidence of economic boost, public participation, and logistical strength.&nbsp; For policymakers and cultural organizers, the three-day event serves as a case study in how heritage festivals can be reintroduced responsibly, balancing tradition with regulation and celebration with civic order.

Basant’s return offered more than just nostalgia. It provided data-backed evidence of economic boost, public participation, and logistical strength. 

Culture

Preliminary market estimates show that kite-related items alone generated sales of over Rs 2 billion, with additional revenue across the hospitality, transportation, retail, and food sectors. 

Basant festival concludes amid cultural revival, economic momentum 

Web Desk

Lahore is set to welcome the return of Basant from February 6 to 8, as kites, music, and spring festivities take over the city after years of restrictions. Authorities have allowed celebrations under strict safety regulations, including QR-coded kites, bans on glass-coated string, and the distribution of one million safety rods to motorcyclists. Free transport services, including buses, rickshaws, and taxis, aim to ease movement as the city marks the arrival of spring.

Lahore is set to welcome the return of Basant from February 6 to 8, as kites, music, and spring festivities take over the city after years of restrictions.

Color and festivity as Lahore set for return of Basant

Maham Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will officially revive one of South Asia&rsquo;s most vibrant spring festivals next month, as the Punjab government lifts a ban of more than a decade on Basant, the centuries-old kite-flying celebration once halted after deadly incidents caused by razor-sharp kite strings.&nbsp;Punjab&rsquo;s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced the decision on X, declaring: &ldquo;Spring returns to the city of heritage and festivals. Lahore&rsquo;s skies will speak in color again, reclaiming our glory for the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;She said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif &ldquo;has approved&rdquo; the return of Basant from February 6 to 8 in Lahore, the first officially sanctioned celebration since 2007. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1998711272876159402&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=333af8a47caec9ae1a27b53b80cbf02f1fc98b03&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>The festival historically transformed Lahore into a citywide spectacle, with entire neighborhoods turning into open-air gatherings and thousands of participants flying brightly colored kites in rooftop competitions. At its peak in the early 2000s, Basant drew international tourists and Pakistani expatriates who traveled home specifically for the event.&nbsp;Aurangzeb noted the festival would be celebrated &ldquo;across Lahore after 25 years,&rdquo; emphasizing that although small-scale celebrations persisted despite the ban, authorities had long blocked any formal or citywide events.&nbsp;A major safety operation is already underway. Lahore has begun installing protective antennas on motorcycles to prevent injuries caused by stray kite strings.&nbsp;&ldquo;Safety is CM Punjab priority,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Let every kite soar and every ride be safe, together we&rsquo;ll make Lahore happy, historic and secure.&rdquo;&nbsp;Why Basant turned deadlyOver the years, competitive kite-flying pushed enthusiasts to coat their strings, known locally as &ldquo;dor,&rdquo; with ground glass, metal or chemicals to gain an advantage.&nbsp;These sharpened strings could slice through rivals&rsquo; kites but also caused widespread harm, cutting electrical lines, triggering blackouts and, most tragically, injuring or killing motorcyclists who collided with the nearly invisible strings.&nbsp;By 2007, authorities attributed dozens of deaths to Basant-related incidents, including falls from rooftops and motorcycle accidents. The Punjab government banned the festival that year, and any attempts at revival in subsequent years were halted following new casualties.&nbsp;The ban hit Lahore&rsquo;s traditional kite-making families particularly hard, forcing many artisans to abandon their craft.&nbsp;New law sets strict controlsBasant&rsquo;s revival follows the introduction of the Basant Ordinance 2025, which sets strict safety rules aimed at preventing the tragedies that once made the festival deadly.&nbsp;Metallic and chemical-coated strings remain banned; only approved cotton strings may be used. Manufacturers and sellers must register with authorities and label each product with a QR code for tracking. &ldquo;Every kite string and seller registered, QR coded and monitored,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said, stressing rigorous enforcement.&nbsp;Penalties for violations include fines of up to Rs100,000 ($353.7) and possible imprisonment of up to three years.&nbsp;Motorcycles are being equipped with vertical antennas designed to deflect or break dangerous strings. &ldquo;On CM Punjab&rsquo;s direction a city-wide campaign to install safety antennas on all motorbikes starts tomorrow,&rdquo; she said, adding: &ldquo;Every motorbike in Lahore will have Antenna for safety before and during Basant.&rdquo;&nbsp;Aurangzeb said the festival belongs to the people but requires collective responsibility. &ldquo;Basant belongs to the people, its success is our collective responsibility. The Basant Ordinance 2025 will be fully enforced and implemented.&rdquo;</div>

It will be the first officially sanctioned celebration since 2007, when the a centuries-old kite-flying festival was prohibited after metal-coated strings killed dozens of people.

Articles tagged with "basant"

Basant festival concludes amid cultural revival, economic momentum

Color and festivity as Lahore set for return of Basant

Punjab revives Basant festival after long ban with new safety rules