The Research Center, College of Art and Design (UCAD), University of the Punjab, Lahore, successfully organized two academic seminars as part of the ongoing Basant Celebrations, foregrounding the cultural, historical, and visual significance of Basant in Punjab.

Seminar I, titled “Basant Bahar: Celebrating Culture of Punjab,” was held on 3 February 2026. The seminar was graced by Dr. Rafiya Tahir, scholar and Chief Guest, who delivered the keynote address, emphasizing Basant as a living cultural memory deeply embedded in Punjabi social and artistic traditions. The session was moderated by Ume Fatima and featured a series of research-based presentations.

Dr. Humera Omer presented a paper on “Paranda in Reference to Punjabi Culture,” highlighting adornment as a marker of feminine identity and festivity. Nadeem Alam traced “The Flying Colours: Visual Journey of Kites through Miniature Painting,” situating kites within historical pictorial traditions. Naumana Masood explored Truck Art as a popular visual language, while Shumaila Khan discussed the Festivity of Basant as a socio-cultural phenomenon. Sadia Qutab Hashmi examined “The Use of the Golden Ratio” in traditional design practices.

Seminar II, held on 4 February 2026, focused on “Basant Festivity: Traditional Forms and Design of Kites.” Dr. Rahat Naveed Masud presented an insightful talk on “Basant and its Historical Context,” tracing its roots across Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh traditions, alongside the Muslim Sufi lineage associated with Amir Khusrow and Nizamuddin Aulia. Amjad Parvez presented “Fighter Kites of Punjab,” detailing their structure, materials, design patterns, colour schemes, and the historical intermixing of kite forms.

Both seminars were organized with keen interest by Prof. Dr. Naela Aamir, Director Research Center, and Prof. Dr. Samina Nasim, Principal, College of Art and Design, reflecting the institution’s commitment to critical cultural discourse and heritage-based research.