Basant, Lahore's spring kite festival, returned in February 2026 after being banned for roughly two decades, and it is now legal again in Lahore district on dates the Punjab government sets each year, under strict rules on kites, string and rooftop safety. This guide covers the current legal position, what kite and string you can actually buy and fly, and where to see it.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Legal in Lahore district only, on government-set dates |
| 2026 dates | 6 to 8 February 2026 |
| Kite string | Plain cotton thread only; metallic, glass-coated, chemical and nylon string banned |
| Kite size | Patang up to about 35 x 30 inches |
| Where to fly | Rooftops with a boundary wall, away from parks, green belts and airport flight paths |
| Where to buy | Government-registered vendors, notably around Mochi Gate |
Is Basant legal in Lahore now?
Yes, but only within specific rules. Basant kite flying had been banned across Punjab since 2007, after a run of deaths from sharp and metal-coated kite string, mostly motorcyclists and pedestrians cut across the throat by strings crossing the road. The provincial government revived it for Lahore district only under the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Act 2025, with a licensed, three-day festival in February 2026 for the first time in about eighteen years.
The legal revival is specific: it applies to Lahore district, on dates the government announces by notification, using only approved kites and string bought from registered sellers. Flying kites outside those dates, in other districts, or with banned string, remains an offence.
When is Basant 2026 (and next year)?
The 2026 festival ran from 6 to 8 February. The Punjab government sets the exact dates each year by notification, usually announced a few weeks ahead, so treat early February as the likely window for future years but confirm the actual dates from current news before planning around it. Given how new the revival is and the safety concerns from the first year, the rules and even the dates could change year to year.
What kites and string are legal
The government's rules are specific and enforced with registered vendors, not general shops:
- String (dor/maanjha): plain, uncoated cotton thread only, wound onto a reel (pinna); no more than nine strands. Metallic wire, glass-coated or chemically treated string, and nylon string are all banned.
- Kite size: a patang up to roughly 35 inches wide by 30 inches long; a gudda (the larger fighter kite) slightly bigger. Oversized kites are not permitted.
- Where to buy: only from government-registered vendors, checked against an official list or the e-Biz Punjab portal during the sale window. Kite clusters have formed around Mochi Gate in the Walled City, plus Gulshan-e-Ravi and Thokar Niaz Baig.
Buying from an unregistered seller, or using leftover string from before the ban, is the easiest way to end up on the wrong side of the rules, since ordinary market string is often exactly the kind now prohibited.
Rooftop and safety rules
Because most injuries and deaths connected with Basant come from falls, electrocution from overhead wires, and celebratory gunfire rather than the kites themselves, the current rules focus heavily on rooftop safety:
- A boundary wall of at least three and a half feet is required on any rooftop used for kite flying.
- Children need continuous adult supervision and should not be near the roof edge unsupervised.
- No running, jumping or hanging over the edge, and the number of people on a rooftop should not exceed what it can safely hold.
- No loud sound systems or DJs that disturb neighbours, and no alcohol or aerial firing.
- A first aid kit is expected to be on hand wherever kite flying is happening.
Despite the rules, the first revived festival in February 2026 recorded at least 17 deaths over the three days, mostly from falls off rooftops, several from electrocution and a couple from falls out of trees, with more than 100 accidents reported in total. This is not a reason to avoid the festival, but it is a reason to take the rooftop rules seriously rather than treating them as red tape: stay well back from the edge, keep children close, and check that any wall or parapet you are near is solid.
Where to watch or take part
Basant is a rooftop and open-air festival rather than one with a single venue. The Walled City, around Mochi Gate and the older neighbourhoods near Badshahi Mosque, has traditionally been the liveliest area, with rooftops packed and kite sellers doing brisk trade in the days before. Some hotels and guesthouses in central Lahore have in the past opened their rooftops for the festival; ask directly if this interests you, since arrangements vary year to year.
If you don't have a rooftop of your own and don't want to arrange one, walking through the kite-selling areas in the run-up to the festival and watching the sky from open ground, well away from any rooftop edge or overhead wire, still gives a sense of the atmosphere.
Riding a motorbike during Basant
If you are on a motorbike in Lahore during the festival, be aware that stray kite string, even legal cotton thread, can still cause a nasty cut across an unprotected neck at speed. Many riders fit a simple wire guard across the front of the bike for this reason during the festival period, and it is worth doing if you will be riding through the city on the festival days.
Who should plan around it
Basant suits visitors who want to see a genuinely local, high-energy festival and are comfortable in crowded, noisy surroundings; it is not a quiet sightseeing day. Families with young children should be especially careful about rooftop access, and anyone riding a motorbike through the city during the festival should take the string-injury risk seriously. If your Lahore trip doesn't line up with the festival dates, the city's food streets and historic sites in the Walled City give a comparable sense of Lahore's street life at any time of year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Basant currently legal in Lahore?
Yes, within Lahore district, on dates the Punjab government sets each year, and only using registered, non-metallic cotton string and kites within the permitted size limits. It remains illegal outside those specific conditions.
When is Basant celebrated in Lahore?
The 2026 festival ran from 6 to 8 February. Dates are set annually by government notification, usually announced a few weeks in advance, so check current news closer to the time.
What kind of kite string is legal for Basant?
Plain, uncoated cotton thread with no more than nine strands, bought from a government-registered vendor. Metallic, glass-coated, chemical and nylon string are all banned.
Is Basant dangerous?
The 2026 revival recorded deaths and injuries, mostly from rooftop falls and electrocution rather than kite string itself. Follow the rooftop safety rules, keep children away from the edge, and take extra care riding a motorbike during the festival.
Where can I buy kites for Basant in Lahore?
From government-registered vendors during the official sale window, with kite-selling clusters around Mochi Gate in the Walled City, plus Gulshan-e-Ravi and Thokar Niaz Baig. Check the official vendor list rather than buying from an unregistered stall.
Can I fly kites in Lahore outside the Basant dates?
No. Kite flying outside the government-announced dates, or in other districts, remains prohibited under the current rules.
