Basant (festival)

Basant
Kite-flying on Basant in Fatima Jinnah Park, Islamabad
Observed byPunjabis
Liturgical colorYellow
TypeSeasonal
Significance
ObservancesKite-flying, eating sweet dishes, decorating homes with yellow flowers
Date5 Magh (January or February)
2026 date23 January 2026 (traditional)
6—8 February 2026 (official in Punjab, Pakistan)
Related toOther Punjabi festivals

Basant (Punjabi: [bəsəntˈ]) is a springtime Punjabi festival primarily associated with flying kites. According to the Punjabi calendar, it is held on the fifth day of Magh (in late January or early February), marking the start of spring. Basant is celebrated throughout the Punjab in both India and Pakistan, and among the Punjabi diaspora.