Lahore erupted in colour and celebration because the long-banned Basant pageant wrapped up after three high-energy days, drawing huge crowds to rooftops and streets throughout town for kite flying and festivities.
From daybreak to nightfall and even past town buzzed with music, flying kites, and a renewed sense of custom, as Lahoris embraced the revival of a pageant as soon as erased by tragedy and controversy.
A couple of years in the past, a dark ambiance had claimed Lahore’s skyline, however immediately, it’s glittering with the delights of a revived pure Lahori, Punjabi spirit. Pakistan, aap ko Mubarak ho ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jxchbnS351
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 8, 2026
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed satisfaction over the celebrations, praising residents for honoring the federal government’s belief. In a message shared on X, she highlighted that individuals adopted guidelines and rules, efficiently selling the idea of a joyful but safe Basant.
She famous that rooftops throughout Lahore witnessed kite flying according to customary working procedures, whereas key areas resembling Liberty and the Walled Metropolis have been backed by in depth medical preparations.
In a shock transfer that delighted festivalgoers, the Chief Minister introduced on Sunday that Basant festivities might proceed until 5am on Monday, extending the sooner deadline that was set to finish Sunday evening.
To handle security issues, over 200 clinics on wheels and 21 area hospitals remained operational all through the pageant. Maryam Nawaz urged the general public to proceed exercising warning and introduced that Lahore’s Protected Basant mannequin could be replicated in different cities.
Basant was banned in Punjab in 2007 following a sequence of deadly accidents attributable to glass-coated kite strings (manjha) and celebratory aerial gunfire, which claimed the lives of pedestrians and motorcyclists. The razor-sharp strings left many severely injured, triggering a province-wide crackdown.
Information minister Azma Bokhari recommended Lahoris for following security protocols, making certain that town’s beloved pageant and cultural heritage have been protected whereas celebrating joyfully. She additionally highlighted the function of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, calling her the guardian of happiness for Lahore and throughout Punjab. “It’s below her management that Basant was celebrated peacefully and efficiently this 12 months,” he stated.
After the many years Punjab authorities lifted the ban final December, ending a 25-year freeze however solely below strict rules and solely in Lahore.
This 12 months, authorities allowed the pageant for 3 days with heightened security measures, a transfer extensively welcomed by residents and 1000’s of tourists who traveled from throughout the nation to witness Lahore reclaim certainly one of its most iconic traditions.
For a lot of, Basant’s return wasn’t nearly kites it was about id, reminiscence, and a metropolis lastly trusted to have fun responsibly.
The three-day pageant, famend for its power, colours, and kite-filled skies, ended on a observe of peace and hope, leaving Lahoris eagerly awaiting subsequent 12 months’s festivities.
