Lahore Comes Alive as Basant Returns After Nearly Two Decades

LAHORE (RNN TV/Web Desk) —  Music echoes through the streets, markets overflow with colour, rooftops are being swept clean, and giant kites now decorate roads and roundabouts. After nearly two decades, Basant has returned to Lahore, and the city is celebrating with unmatched enthusiasm.

Pakistan’s cultural capital is witnessing scenes many feared were lost to history. From the Walled City to suburban neighbourhoods, Lahore is buzzing as families prepare for the iconic kite-flying festival that welcomes the spring season.

Basant, once banned in 2007 due to safety concerns, is making a carefully regulated comeback — and the excitement is unmistakable. In recent days, tens of thousands of people have poured into bazaars to buy kites, cotton strings, drums, and festive décor, eager to paint Lahore’s skies with colour once again.

For Lahoris, Basant is not merely a festival — it is a feeling. Rooftops are turning into celebration hubs, where families gather for day-long feasts, music plays nonstop, and friendly rivalries unfold in the sky as kites duel overhead. Cheers erupt whenever a kite line is cut, a moment that still carries the same thrill it did years ago.

The city itself has transformed into a canvas. Yellow — the traditional colour of Basant — dominates clothing and decorations, while pinks, greens, and purples ripple across rooftops in flags and banners. From dawn till dusk, Lahore feels alive, vibrant, and unapologetically festive.

“Kite flying in Lahore is not just a hobby, it’s passion,” says Saleem Rizwan, a lifelong kite enthusiast. “There’s nothing like the energy here. When Basant comes, the whole city breathes together.”

The return of Basant has also stirred deep nostalgia. Many residents say the festival’s revival feels like reclaiming a missing piece of Lahore’s identity.

“Basant in Lahore is different from anywhere else,” says Omer Ahmed, a local resident. “The food, the music, the atmosphere — it’s emotional. It feels like the soul of the city is back.”

This year’s celebrations are taking place under strict regulations. Kite flying has been limited to designated days within city limits, and only approved cotton strings are allowed. Authorities have also introduced safety measures to ensure the festival remains joyful rather than dangerous.

Despite the controls, the spirit of Basant remains intact.

There is laughter on rooftops, colour in the sky, rhythm in the streets — and a shared sense of joy that has been absent for years.

As Lahore once again looks upward, watching thousands of kites dance against the spring sky, one thing is clear: Basant is back, and the city is celebrating it with full heart and soul.