Lahores Basant Festival Becomes a Signature Event in Pakistan

Lahore Celebrates Return of Spring Kite Festival After Years of Restrictions

A crowd gathered along a main avenue in Lahore, Pakistan, as the city’s sky erupted in fireworks at midnight on Thursday. The event marked the return of the centuries-old spring festival of Basant to the city after nearly two decades of restrictions.

Thousands of people attended the celebration, which included rooftop music and kite flying. Aamer Iqbal, a 50-year-old banker, was among those who participated. He shared his experience with Al Jazeera, saying that the act of flying a kite brought back memories of his childhood. “Kite flying is an experience, and when I let it go, my entire childhood came flooding back,” he said.

Muhammad Mubashir, a 41-year-old businessman, also attended the festival. He noted that watching a young boy struggle to tie the central knot on a kite highlighted the impact of the ban on Basant in Lahore. “He was completely out of his depth and had no idea what he was doing,” Mubashir said.

The origins of Basant date back centuries, with roots deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Punjab. The festival traditionally marks the transition from harsh winter to spring, coinciding with the harvest season. According to historical accounts, Basant originated in the 13th century and became associated with Sufi shrines across Delhi.

In Lahore, the festival has been celebrated since the 19th-century Sikh Empire. Maharaja Ranjit Singh institutionalized the festival at the imperial level, making it an annual celebration at Sufi shrines and beyond. Before the 1947 British colonial partition, Basant was celebrated across religious lines in undivided Punjab.

Research by Amjad Parvez, a former professor at the University of Punjab, has studied the history and design of kites associated with Basant. According to Parvez, Lahore is considered the main hub of celebrations associated with Basant. The festival’s return to Lahore marks an important cultural event for the city and its people.

Source: Al Jazeera