The Basant festival has finally made a comeback at Lahore after a 18-year break with a midnight festival launch. People are partying on the roof tops as the Punjab government reinstates the traditional spring festival within stringent safety protocols. The city has been turned into a multicolored kite-flying and cultural fest in the company of public holidays and with the massive security.
Lahore officially reclaimed its cultural identity today. After nearly two decades, the Basant festival has returned to the city. The first kites hit the sky at midnight as Punjab’s Information Minister, Azma Bukhari, inaugurated the festivities.
Safe Basant: Rules You Need to Know
The Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance 2025 announced that you can only use plain cotton thread (pinna). Metallic, glass-coated, and chemical strings are strictly banned. If you fly a kite with political or religious symbols, you face arrest. Police are now patrolling rooftops and using drones to spot illegal materials.
A Four-Day Long Basant Holidays in Punjab
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz declared February 6 and 7 as provincial public holidays. This creates a massive four-day weekend starting from Kashmir Day on February 5. In the markets, “Gudda” and “Patang” prices are soaring due to high demand. Women are joining in with yellow outfits and traditional dishes, doubling the festive spirit.
Basant Festival Security and Emergency Readiness
The government has deployed 10,000 police officers across Lahore Basant zones. Hospitals are on high alert. Over 1,200 rescuers and 56 ambulances are stationed near major hubs. If you are riding a motorcycle, you must install a safety wire. Section 144 is in effect to prevent aerial firing. Even the airport has a “no-fly” kite zone to protect planes.
Historic rooftops in the Walled City are fully booked. Traders report record-breaking sales. Despite the strict rules, the atmosphere is electric. Basant in Lahore isn’t just a festival anymore; it’s a test of civic responsibility. The skies are dry, the wind is light, and for the first time in 19 years, Lahore is truly home.