The Basant festival in Lahore, marking its return after an 18-year hiatus, has been met with both celebration and tragedy. According to Geo Business, the festival, which took place on February 6, 2026, saw the skies over Lahore filled with vibrant kites, attracting large crowds and participation from notable celebrities like Saba Qamar and Ayeza Khan. The sentiment from this source is positive, highlighting the cultural significance and the joyous atmosphere of the event. However, this festive mood was overshadowed by safety incidents reported by multiple sources. Geo News reported that the festival resulted in one death and five injuries, with a 25-year-old man dying from electrocution while retrieving a kite. DawnNews English corroborated these reports, noting that the festival's return was marred by safety concerns despite the Punjab government's strict regulations following the lifting of the ban in December 2025. The ban, originally imposed in 2007, was due to a rise in deaths and injuries from sharp kite strings and celebratory gunfire.