Luxury Basant, sab ki Basant no more

By M Sultan

There was a time when Basant in Lahore belonged to everyone. Before the embargo in Punjab, the festival was a true social equaliser, dividing the city not by wealth but by rooftops coloured with flying kites.

The wealthy spent lavishly to fulfil their passion for kite flying, while the poor celebrated the festival in their own way. After the sharp twang of a cut kite, the sky would rain opportunity. Whoever picked the fallen gudda or dor became its rightful owner. For many low-income families, Basant truly began after Basant – when collected kites and strings were flown again in quieter lanes and rooftops.

Read also: Lahore sees kite and string shortages ahead of Basant as prices rise and buyers grow grustrated

Students spent their pocket money carefully, buying a few kites and a small reel of string to feel part of the moment. Those who could not afford even that made their own kites using bokar –  bamboo cuttings from floor-cleaner brushes – transforming scarcity into creativity. This was the charm of Basant: resourcefulness, sharing, and joy without price tags.

Today, that spirit is under threat.

Current market rates ahead of Basant 2026 show kites selling at Rs200–300 for small sizes, Rs300–400 for medium (one tawa), and up to Rs600–750 for larger or branded kites. Legal cotton dor now costs between Rs8,000 and Rs15,000 for two-piece reels, while premium sets can reach Rs25,000 or more.

With only government-approved, QR-coded cotton string allowed – a necessary step for public safety – prices have surged beyond the reach of ordinary families. For many poor fathers, celebrating Basant for their children has become impossible when the minimum wage is around Rs 40,000 a month.

The problem is compounded by enforcement issues. In a recent incident, authorities registered a case against four police personnel from Gujjarpura for allegedly intercepting citizens, confiscating kites, and demanding money before releasing them. According to the FIR, Rs56,000 and 100 bundles of kites were allegedly taken. The case surfaced after an audio recording went viral, prompting official action. Investigations are ongoing.

Such incidents reinforce the fear that the poor must either pay or face the wrath of enforcement, turning celebration into anxiety.

There is no dispute that dangerous metal (dahat) -based string must be banned without exception, as it has proven lethal. But regulation should not become exclusion. Safe dor and kites must be made freely available at affordable, controlled prices.

Otherwise, Basant will no longer be sab ki Basant. It will remain a luxury Basant – flown high by the rich, watched quietly by those who once made the festival what it was.

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