Preparation have been started to celebrate the Lahore Basant on a limited scale in the walled city of lahore.
The city of Lahore was muted. The buzz of spring was missing and the colors from the sky which spring brought along were nonexistent. Basant is Pakistan’s kite-flying festival and makes spring a festive time full of colors and joy. After years of silence, there is the desire to bring the festival back to Lahore, but not without caution.
The absence of the festival is not without intention, as it is coming from the highest levels of provincial government. The plans to restore the festival reflect a mixture of cultural hope and concrete safety proposals. The intention of the authorities to restore the festival is shown in reports where the deputy commissioner of Lahore presented the ‘safe Basant’ plan to the Punjab government.
Lahore Basant celebrations in the historic Walled City of Lahore will include Shahi Qila, Mochi Gate, Bhati Gate, and Rang Mahal.
One of the planners noted, “We cannot afford a return to the tragedies of the past. By focusing the celebration on the Walled City, we gain a manageable zone where safety protocols can be strictly enforced. It’s an attempt to absorb the unique cultural essence of Lahore Basant while stemming the widespread violence.”
In a meeting aimed at the upper administration of the city, we explained that the celebration would last only two days, a Saturday and a Sunday, and that the limited city safety measures would confine the celebrations to a smaller area. This meeting also included Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and addressed the violence prevention measures in place during Basant festivities. The potential for Lahore Basant excites the entire city.
A ban of deadly kite string is for kite safety. The kite string: sharp metal kite strings and nylon kite strings, and chemical kite strings, will always be banned for safe kite flying.
As a replacement, the use cotton strings and pure starch kite strings is encouraged. To track and control the sellers, every string and kite will have a barcode. This will dismantle the control of a dangerous manjha. The administration will ensure constant monitoring for dangerous kite and string sellers. Selling kites without a license will have severe punishments.
The kites and strings are not the only focus of safety for Lahore Basant:
- Motorcyclist Protection: A ban on motorcycles has been proposed for the immediate celebration areas. Furthermore, in adjacent zones, safety antennas and neck covers will be made mandatory for motorcyclists.
- Infrastructure: Safety nets and wire protection systems are proposed for installation on main roads to catch stray strings.
- Monitoring and Response: High-definition CCTV cameras will keep an eye on festival regions. Police, rescues, and administration will work on supervised ‘Basant zone’ areas, assisting police control rooms.
- Limitations with Shree Kites: All kites will be allowed, but there will be weight limitations. These plans will look to not permit large kites. If large kites are not allowed, then the falling and tangling with other kites will be much less of a risk.
Basant will need much more than just a safety and space plan to fully bounce back. There are, and continue to be, many legal clearances to be accomplished. That said, the legal risk, or more accurately, lack of a legal risk, to the celebrations comes from the new joint-monitoring committees made up of the district government and the police.
The whole city is now holding its breath regarding the “safe Basant plan.” After safely tossing the festival, the administrative will and culture demonstrated means that the power now lies with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to let the festivities flow and invigorate the whole country. The return of Lahore Basant would be a cultural landmark.
If Lahore is permitted, the city will celebrate the success of meticulous planning instead of wallowing in a sad past. This demonstrates that sound traditions can be upheld alongside solid systems of safety. The anticipation for Lahore Basant is huge.
