Guides · Pinna and dor
Dor and pinna guide: cotton kite string, tar count and how much you need
A pinna (پنا) is a tight round ball of cotton dor (ڈور), the only legal form of kite string for Basant. Legal dor has at most 9 tar (threads), a count of at least 28 and its own QR code. At Basant 2026 a single pinna cost Rs 4,000–5,000 in Lahore's markets.
Basant 2027 at a glance
Short answers from our facts table. Each one links to its source and shows when we last checked it.
Which string is legal?
Cotton dor only
Up to 9 threads (tars), at least 28 count, approved maanjha only.
confirmedDetails and source
Only cotton dor is allowed: at most 9 threads (tars), at least 28 count, coated only with approved maanjha, and wound in a round ball called a pinna. Every pinna must carry its own QR code for verification.
How do I check a pinna?
Scan the QR before you pay
Scan the QR code on a pinna with your phone camera before you pay.
awaiting official notificationDetails and source
Scan the QR code on a pinna with your phone camera before you pay. A legal pinna's code opens a record on an official Punjab government (.gov.pk) portal naming the registered manufacturer. No code, a code that will not scan, or a link to any other site means do not buy.
awaiting official notificationSource: The Express Tribune
Basant 2026 prices
Rs 250–400
A 1 tawa kite at Basant 2026. One pinna of cotton dor: Rs 4,000–5,000.
confirmedDetails and source
Basant 2026 market prices (1–8 February 2026, as reported by buyers and sellers): a 1 tawa kite cost Rs 250–400, a 1.5 tawa Rs 400–600, one pinna of cotton dor Rs 4,000–5,000, a 2-piece pinna Rs 8,000–10,000 and a 4-piece set up to Rs 15,000. Prices varied by market and day.
confirmedSource: Daily Pakistan
On this page
What is dor, and what is a pinna?
Dor (ڈور) is the cotton string a kite flies on, and a pinna is that dor wound into a tight round ball, the only legal way to wind it now that the charkhi spool is banned.
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The official Basant portal defines the pinna as the round ball of wound dor and calls it the only compliant form for kite string. Lahore's string makers have long wound their pinnas into very tight balls. Under the rules every pinna also carries its own QR code, which links it to the registered manufacturer that made it.
What do tar and count mean on a pinna?
Tar (تار) is the number of threads twisted together to make the dor, capped at 9, and count is the yarn's fineness number, which must be at least 28.
| Rule | Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Cotton only | No other fibre is permitted |
| Tar (threads) | No more than 9 | Each tar is a thread; more tar makes a thicker line |
| Count | At least 28 | A higher count means finer yarn |
| Coating | The approved coating only | Sharp, glass-, metal- or chemically coated string is banned |
| Form | Wound as a pinna | The charkhi spool is banned |
| Traceability | A QR code on every pinna | Scan it before you pay |
Count is a textile-trade number: under the English cotton count, the higher the number, the finer the yarn. Tar works the other way, because each tar adds another thread to the twist. Within the legal limits, ask the seller which dor suits the size of your kite.
What is the difference between a single, 2-piece and 4-piece pinna?
They differ in how much dor is wound on: a single pinna is the basic unit, and 2-piece and 4-piece pinnas hold more dor at a higher price.
| Pinna | Price range at Basant 2026 |
|---|---|
| Single pinna | Rs 4,000–5,000 |
| 2-piece pinna | Rs 8,000–10,000 |
| 4-piece set | Up to Rs 15,000 |
A 2-piece pinna cost about twice as much as a single one, so the choice is mostly about how much flying you plan. Ask the seller how much dor each piece holds, and compare the price per piece, not per ball. Prices rose through the 2026 sales week; the price tracker logs every observation with its source and date.
How much dor do you need for Basant?
Plan by flyers and flying days rather than by kites: give each regular flyer a pinna of their own, keep a spare for the roof, and allow extra for string lost when a kite is cut.
- Flyers: count the people who will actually hold a line, not everyone on the roof.
- Days: plan for the notified flying days only: awaiting notification (official portal: 29 Jan – 7 Feb 2027).
- Losses: when a kite is cut (bo kata), the dor beyond the cut goes with it, so a crowded sky uses more string.
- Spares: a shared spare pinna saves a trip to the market in festival week, when shops can run short.
- Timing: buy only from a registered seller during the official sales window: not notified yet (expected about a week before the festival).
Where we stand
Seller registration in progress. Sales open only after our Punjab seller certificate is issued.
Join the WhatsApp waitlistHow should you store dor?
Keep every pinna clean, dry and out of the sun in a cool, airy place, because damp brings mould and mildew and strong light weakens fibres over time.
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- Store pinnas in a cloth bag or a box somewhere dry and shaded, away from heaters and damp walls.
- Let dor that got damp on the roof dry fully before you put it away.
- Wind spare dor back onto the pinna by hand, since the charkhi is banned.
- Keep each pinna's QR label and your receipt until Basant is over.
- Cut leftover or tangled dor into short lengths and bin it; never leave loose string on roofs, trees or wires.
- Store only legal cotton dor: keeping banned string is an offence that can bring 5 to 7 years in prison.
How do you check that a pinna is legal?
Scan its QR code with your phone camera before you pay, and buy it only if the code opens an official .gov.pk record naming a registered manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pinna the same as dor?
No. Dor is the cotton string itself; a pinna is the round ball it is wound into, and the only legal form for Basant.
Can I buy dor on a charkhi?
No. The charkhi spool is banned, so legal dor is sold only as a pinna. Wind spare string back by hand.
What is the maximum tar for legal dor?
Legal dor may have no more than 9 tar. It must also be cotton, with a count of at least 28, and every pinna needs a QR code.
How much did a pinna cost at Basant 2026?
Market prices were Rs 4,000–5,000 for a single pinna and Rs 8,000–10,000 for a 2-piece. These are market observations, not our prices.
Sources (22)
- Punjab Basant portal (official) — Safety rules (15 Oct 2026)
- The Express Tribune — Lahore revives Basant 2026 but keeps kite-flying on a tight string
- SGSPL — QR-code registration made mandatory for kites in Lahore ahead of Basant 2026
- Daily Pakistan — Kite and thread prices in Lahore for Basant 2026 (1 Feb 2026)
- Pakistan Today — Basant enthusiasm sweeps Lahore, kite prices soar (2 Feb 2026)
- The Express Tribune — Basant in Lahore: historic rooftops booked for kite flying
- Pakistan Today — Punjab Assembly passes strict kite-flying law with heavy penalties (24 Dec 2025)
- Dawn — Punjab govt plans stringent regulations for safe Basant in Lahore (11 Sept 2026)
- The Express Tribune — PA passes Kite Flying Bill 2025 with tough penalties
- Geo News — Kite-flying rules, sales window notified (charkhi ban) (29 Dec 2025)
- ARY News — Basant 2026 SOPs for Lahore (noise, DJ, aerial firing) (2 Feb 2026)
- Dawn — Registration for kite manufacturers to open from tomorrow (4 Sept 2026)
- Punjab Basant portal (official) — Basant 2027 dates (15 Oct 2026)
- The Nation — Punjab approves Basant festival in Lahore for 2027 (30 Sept 2026)
- The Express Tribune — Lahore skies set for 10-day Basant (1 Oct 2026)
- Geo News — Lahore to celebrate 10-day Basant festival in 2027 (30 Sept 2026)
- Punjab Basant portal — Code of conduct (lists 12–14 March 2027 as tentative)
- The Nation — Basant 2027 to be celebrated in Lahore from March 12 to 14 (18 Aug 2026)
- Minute Mirror — Basant 2027 in Lahore likely to return to original March dates (4 Oct 2026)
- Canadian Conservation Institute — Basic care: textiles
- Wikipedia — Units of textile measurement (English cotton count)
- Arif Rahman Chughtai — Basant in Lahore, a raw deal (Chughtai Museum blog) (4 Nov 2013)