Kites swoop across skies of Lahore as Basant festival makes colorful comeback скачать в хорошем качестве

Kites swoop across skies of Lahore as Basant festival makes colorful comeback

(6 Feb 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Lahore, Pakistan - 6 February 2026 1. Various of sky filled with kites 2. Local woman flying kite ASSOCIATED PRESS Lahore, Pakistan - 4 February 2026 3. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Muhammad Naseem, kite maker: ++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++ "The government of Punjab has lifted the ban on the Basant festival. We are involved in the making of kites and strings and are very happy. We pray, God willing, this will be happen continuously in the future. Thanks to this, our business is doing so well." 4. Various of Muhammad Naseem making kites ASSOCIATED PRESS Lahore, Pakistan - 5 February 2026 5. Various of city decorated with kites and billboards ahead of festival ASSOCIATED PRESS Lahore, Pakistan - 6 February 2026 6. Various of young people dancing 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Maahru Bibi, local resident: ++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++ "I am really excited. We are planning on flying kites and we are going around the city and exploring things. So many decorations - the government has organized it really well, and I'm really excited. All of my siblings, cousins - we're planning on getting together at this event so we can celebrate this first Basant together." 8. Women at the festival 9. Various of people flying kites and sky full of kites ++NIGHT SHOTS ++ STORYLINE: A burst of color lights up Lahore’s night sky as Pakistan’s cultural capital relaunches the Basant kite-flying festival after nearly two decades. Authorities say the celebration has been allowed only under strict safety regulations, warning that the use of hazardous kite strings that endanger lives could lead to arrests. Many locals can barely contain their excitement, especially those younger people who have never had a chance to enjoy the festival. "This is the first time it's happened in my lifetime. I was really excited and I'm enjoying it a lot. I want us to celebrate this festival every year," says Shifa Ijaz. For kite makers, the return of Basant means a welcome boom. "We pray, God willing, this will be happen continuously in the future. Thanks to this, our business is doing so well," says kite maker Muhammad Naseem. Ahead of the festival, kite markets are packed with eager buyers, although some complain that the prices are too high. Others say they can hardly wait for the fun to start. "I'm really excited, says local Maahru Bibi. "All of my siblings, cousins - we're planning on getting together at this event so we can celebrate this first Basant together." As the clocks strike midnight, marking the official start of the two-day celebration, rooftops across the city came alive with families and friends launching kites into the night air. Kite-flying had been banned in the province since 2005, following a series of fatal accidents. Razor-sharp strings used in competitive kite fighting killed about a dozen people, mostly motorcyclists and bystanders, two decades ago. That prompted the government to impose broad restrictions across Punjab and effectively halt Basant. This year, officials say strict safety measures are in place. "We have established different camps all across the city, and our teams will remain in the field to ensure a smooth and a successful Basant," says Lahore Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali. Motorcyclists are required to install tall, antenna-like metal rods on their bikes to prevent airborne strings from causing injury. The provincial government also declared a two-day public holiday to reduce traffic and lower accident risks. =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...