US EditionBasant, Pakistan's Famous Kite Festival, Cautiously Returns After 19-Year Ban
The Basant festival returned after nearly 20 years with strict three-day limits, police monitoring, and seizure of 100,000 kites and 2,100 string rolls to ensure safety.
- On Sunday, February 8, 2026, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the extension of Basant celebrations in Lahore till 5am on Monday, describing it as a 'reward for the people of Lahore' for disciplined festivities.
- Revival followed a December decision by the Punjab government to lift the 18-year ban first imposed in 2007 after fatal kite-related injuries and deaths.
- Security forces deployed drones and CCTV as they seized more than 100,000 kites and 2,100 rolls of string, enforced the cotton-only string rule, and vendors reported brisk sales after February 1.
- The provincial control room logged at least 118 Basant-related accident cases in two days, including six casualties and about 112 twine injuries; Marriyum Aurangzeb said authorities will conduct a detailed post-event evaluation.
- The government framed the event as a pilot, limiting it to Lahore to test SOPs, while Yousaf Salahuddin noted Basant's economic boost for street vendors and local businesses.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Punjab extends Basant celebrations in Lahore until 5am
The Punjab government has extended Basant festivities until 5.00am tomorrow following successful celebrations in the provincial capital of Lahore. The festival was earlier scheduled to end at midnight on Sunday. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the extension was granted after the magnificent Basant celebrations, festivities, unity, and joy witnessed in Lahore, Punjab, and across Pakistan – which have retu…
Basant: The colourful sky belongs to Lahore again
Lahore's skies come alive as Basant returns, rekindling the spirit of kite flying and community celebration. Join the festivities from February 6 to 8, where laughter, tradition, and vibrant colors unite to restore a cherished piece of Lahore's cultural identity.
Kites and victory cries fill Lahore skies as festival returns after long ban
Extravagantly coloured kites dueled above Lahore and cries of victory rang out from rooftops on Friday, as the city celebrated the lifting of an 18-year ban on a spectacular three-day traditional Punjabi kite-flying festival.
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