After an 18-year hiatus, the historic Basant festival is set to return to Lahore, following the Punjab government’s decision to lift the long-standing ban on the celebration. The three-day festival will be held from February 6 to 8, 2026, under strict safety regulations to ensure public protection.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari confirmed the development, stating that the festival would be “completely safe, regulated, and strictly monitored.” Speaking to Dawn, she said, “The Basant festival will be held in Lahore from February 6 to 8, 2026. Strict conditions have been imposed to prevent any potential loss of life during the celebrations.”
The revival was formally approved by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, a decision welcomed as a major cultural milestone. In a post on X, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced, “CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz has approved the revival of our beloved Heritage Basant Festival on February 6th, 7th and 8th, celebrated across Lahore after 25 years, a tradition rooted in history and admired worldwide.”
To address past safety concerns, the Punjab government has announced comprehensive preventive measures. On the chief minister’s directions, a city-wide campaign will begin to install safety antennas on all motorbikes. “Every motorbike in Lahore will have an antenna for safety before and during Basant,” Marriyum Aurangzeb said, emphasizing the government’s zero-tolerance approach toward negligence.
The Basant festival was banned in 2007 after a sharp rise in fatalities and serious injuries caused by glass-coated kite strings, particularly affecting motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as incidents linked to celebratory gunfire. The renewed framework aims to eliminate these risks through enforcement, monitoring, and public awareness.
Last week, the Punjab government lifted the ban through the Punjab Kite Flying Ordinance, 2025, which grants police officers of the rank of sub-inspector and above the authority to conduct searches and make arrests without warrants on credible information. The ordinance has since been submitted to the Punjab Assembly for enactment.
Basant Panchami, marking the fifth day of the lunar month of Magh, traditionally symbolizes the arrival of spring, agricultural prosperity, and good fortune. Historically, the festival gained prominence in the 19th century when Maharaja Ranjit Singh introduced kite flying as a central feature of the annual Basant fair. Lahore soon became the heart of the celebrations, a status it retains to this day.
During Basant, Lahore’s skyline transforms into a vibrant canvas of colourful kites flown from rooftops across the city. While kite flying remains a cherished cultural tradition, authorities have emphasized that safety and regulation will be strictly enforced to ensure that the revival of Basant remains joyful, secure, and responsible.
With the return of Basant, Lahore once again prepares to reclaim its identity as a city of colour, heritage, and festivals, presenting its cultural legacy to the world under a renewed commitment to public safety.
