In Pakistan, a Kite Festival Returns to Troubled Skies
#Lahore #Basant #Kite festival #Pakistan #Air pollution #Cultural heritage #Government ban
📌 Key Takeaways
- The traditional kite festival, known as Basant, remains officially banned in Lahore after nearly 20 years.
- Safety concerns regarding lethal chemical-coated kite strings and religious pressure led to the original prohibition.
- Lahore is currently ranked among the world's most polluted cities, adding a layer of environmental crisis to the cultural restriction.
- The unofficial return of kite flying represents a form of cultural resistance against political and social constraints.
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
Culture, Environment, Politics
📚 Related People & Topics
Air pollution
Presence of dangerous substances in the air
Air pollution is the presence of substances in the air that are harmful to humans, other living beings or the environment. Pollutants can be gases, like ozone or nitrogen oxides, or small particles like soot and dust. Both outdoor and indoor air can be polluted.
Pakistan
Country in South Asia
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. Islamabad is the nation's capital, while Karachi is its largest city and financia...
Lahore
Capital of Punjab, Pakistan
Lahore is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is the second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and 27th largest in the world, with a population of over 14 million. Lahore is one of Pakistan's major industrial, educational and economic hubs.
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Connections for Air pollution:
- 👤 James Gallagher (1 shared articles)
- 🌐 Particulate matter (1 shared articles)
- 🌐 Blood test (1 shared articles)
📄 Original Source Content
The vibrant celebration, banned for two decades, brightened the eastern city of Lahore, where residents face alarming levels of air pollution and political restrictions.