Lahore To Host 10-Day Basant Festival In 2027

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved a 10-day Basant festival in Lahore for 2027, setting the celebrations from January 29 to February 7 with a one-day pause on February 5 for Kashmir Day.

The decision was announced on Wednesday as the provincial government moved to expand the festival after its return earlier this year. Officials said the extended schedule is intended to promote Punjab’s cultural traditions and bring Lahore’s historic spring festival back into the public calendar in a more organised form.

According to a government spokesperson, the festivities will begin on January 29 and continue until February 7. The celebrations will be suspended on February 5 to mark Kashmir Day before resuming for the remaining festival period.

Maryam Nawaz said Basant would help promote Punjab’s cultural heritage and Lahore’s historic identity. She directed the administration and relevant departments to make stronger arrangements for public safety and convenience compared with the previous edition of the festival.

The provincial government is expected to begin preparations well in advance, with public safety likely to remain the central concern. Basant had been banned for years after deaths and serious injuries linked to sharp kite strings, celebratory firing and unsafe kite-flying practices.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari also shared details of the upcoming festivities through her official X account. The announcement follows Maryam Nawaz’s earlier statement that a three-day Basant festival would be held in Lahore from March 12 to 14, 2027, after the festival’s return from a long break.

Lahore celebrated Basant earlier this year after more than two decades, with strict rules and public facilitation measures in place. Authorities arranged transport and security support, while major parts of the city saw lights, decorations, rooftop gatherings and cultural activities.

Officials described the previous festival as a successful revival and said the next edition would be made broader and more vibrant. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had earlier said around 2 million people used the transport facility during the three-day celebrations, while about 1 million vehicles entered Punjab.

The next phase for the government will be finalising safety regulations, traffic planning, event management and public awareness measures. The success of the 10-day festival will depend on whether authorities can balance cultural revival with strict enforcement against dangerous kite-flying practices.