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.

Once again, waiting and missing Basant ever since, when the skies of Lahore would see a curtain of colors. Basant, a festival of joy and entertainment, has become significantly dangerous for those involved in the festival and passersby. Of course, the general public still partakes in kite-flying however, Basant is not as grand as it once was and for all the right reasons. The way is not to close it down but to strongly regulate it. It needs to be protected, since it was the only time that the old city becomes one family, from street boys to multinationals.

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