Empty Skies of Lahore

The sky used to be literally filled with colorful kites of all shapes and sizes flown from rooftops. The kites were flown on strings called “Dorr” which is a special thread with cut glass embedded within which serves to cut the thread of competitor kites more effectively. It may seem an innocent pastime, but some kite flyers reinforce strings with wire or ground glass for dueling with other kites and betting on the outcome.

When strings cross in the congested sky, the winner cuts loose the opponent’s kite. Some of the kite-flying competitions get extremely competitive and serious. Women, on this day, are seen wearing a bright yellow dress up to the hilt. This festival gained more and more importance over the years and used to attract people from all over the world. The stray kite strings cut the throats of innocent many a time. Basant, for some families, is different. The continuous use of coated and metal wire and subsequent casualties and losses necessitated the ban.

What is basant to Lahorites

Remember how white, moth-like kites began to fill the dark sky just before midnight, fleetingly lit by giant spotlights, while jubilant cries of “bo kata!” [I cut it!] rang out above pulsating bhangra music. Whites were for the nights. People usually crowd streets, parks, and rooftops to fly kites, listen to music, and party.

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