Punjab reschedules Lahore Basant to March

The Punjab government has rescheduled Basant 2027 in Lahore for a second time, with the provincial cabinet approving March 12, 13 and 14 as the new dates for the festival.

The decision reverses the schedule Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had announced earlier, under which Basant was to be celebrated over 10 days from January 29 to February 7, with a break on February 5 to observe Kashmir Day.

According to sources, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Muhammad Ali Ijaz sent a summary proposing a change in the festival dates to the Punjab Home Department, which forwarded it to the provincial cabinet for approval.

The cabinet has now approved the March dates.

Maryam had announced the January dates as part of an extended celebration aimed at promoting Punjab’s cultural heritage and Lahore’s traditional identity.

She had directed the relevant departments to prepare in advance and strengthen public safety and facilitation arrangements. The latest rescheduling means the festival will now be held over three days in March, replacing the previously announced 10-day programme.

Meanwhile, preparations for Basant 2027 are underway under a regulatory framework governing kite flying, kite manufacturing and sales, and the transport and use of kite string.

The Lahore district administration has said kite flying will be permitted only on the designated festival dates. Chemical-coated, metallic, and sharp kite strings, commonly known as ‘manjha’, are prohibited under the announced restrictions, while only approved kite sizes and cotton string are permitted