Rooftops turn into festive hubs

Visitors join Lahoris of all ages in Basant celebration

LAHORE:

Residents as well as visitors to the city continued to celebrate the Basant festival with enthusiasm on Saturday. turning rooftops across the city into vibrant hubs of colour, music and festivity.

With favourable winds aiding kite flying, boys, girls, men and women, including elderly citizens, spent the entire day competing in kite battles, while the chants of "Bo-kata" echoed continuously from neighbourhood to neighbourhood over downing rival kites.

The rooftops remained crowded since the morning as families and friends gathered to enjoy the traditional pastime.

Alongside kite flying, hosts treated guests to a variety of homemade dishes, reflecting the festive spirit that has long been associated with Basant in the provincial capital.

Under the government's conditional approval, kite flying has been permitted only up to Sunday, marking the final day of the officially allowed celebrations.

The Basant festivities over the onset of the spring season was shared with Lahoris by visitors from other cities as well as overseas Pakistanis and foreigners.

Liberty Chowk and surrounding areas were thronged by visitors who had travelled to Lahore to experience the iconic festival with relatives and friends.

The clear skies and steady breeze created ideal conditions for kite flying, prompting enthusiasts to engage in intense duels in the air throughout the day.

The Punjab government termed the revival of Basant a gift for the people of Lahore, emphasising that strict adherence to prescribed rules and regulations is essential to ensure safety.

A zero-tolerance policy has been adopted against illegal activities, including the use of banned strings and unauthorised kite flying. To monitor safety and administrative arrangements, the home department has established a dedicated control room to oversee the situation and respond promptly to any violations.

The celebrations were not limited to kite flying. Guests from within and outside the country enjoyed a wide range of traditional food. While some relished barbecue prepared on rooftops, others savoured classic dishes such as palak gosht, gajar halwa and lentil-based desserts. Young men and women added to the festive atmosphere by playing music and dancing, creating a carnival-like environment in many residential areas.

As night fell, kite flyers switched to specially prepared white and yellow kites, a tradition associated with evening Basant festivities. Women and children were seen wearing bright yellow outfits and traditional attire, symbolising spring and joy.

Authorities made it clear that Sunday marks the last day of Basant celebrations. From Monday onwards, legal action will be taken against anyone found violating the ban on kite flying.

Despite the restrictions, the revival of Basant again highlighted Lahore's deep cultural connection to the festival, as the city celebrated spring with colour, food and collective cheer under close administrative oversight.

An informal retreat of the Developing-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation was organised during a Basant cultural ceremony, in which Pakistani and international delegates participated under the leadership of D-8 Secretary General Sohail Mahmood. Representatives from member countries Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan attended the ceremony.

Provincial Senior Minister Mariyyum Aurangzeb welcomed the delegation at the historic Poonch House.

Centuries-old cultural traditions of Punjab were highlighted, featuring kite flying, folk music, and local cuisines.