The Kite Flying Association of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has announced two separate Basant festivals in defiance of the government's strict ban on kite flying.
The revised schedule designates one Basant for Rawalpindi Cantonment and another for Rawalpindi City.
Basant Night in the Cantonment areas, including Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Dhok Syedan, Morgah, and Chuhur Harpal, will be held on February 20 (Thursday), followed by Basant Day on February 21 (Friday). Meanwhile, Rawalpindi City's Basant Night is scheduled for February 27 (Thursday), with Basant Day on February 28 (Friday).
The association has vowed to defy all government restrictions, arguing that instead of banning Basant, authorities should impose stricter penalties on the use of metal and chemical-coated kite strings.
"Even if the punishment for Basant is 14 years in prison or life imprisonment, the festival will go on," said Kite Flying Association Chairman Vice Chairman Chaudhry Iqbal.
He added that Basant Night will take place from sunset until midnight, with only white kites allowed.
Rooftop barbecues and traditional feasts have been planned.
According to sources, kites are being delivered to homes through social media networks, while sales continue covertly. Buyers use coded terms, such as "parrot" for kites and "parrot feed" for kite strings, to evade police detection.
Despite a strict crackdown, kite flying continues daily in the afternoons, leading to cat-and-mouse chases between enthusiasts and law enforcement.
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