Holidays inPakistan are celebrated according to theIslamic orGregorian calendars for religious and civil purposes, respectively. Religious holidays such as Eid are celebrated according to theIslamic calendar whereas other national holidays such asLabour Day,[1]Pakistan Day,Independence Day, andQuaid-e-Azam Day are celebrated according to theGregorian calendar. Seasonal festivals are celebrated according to theBikrami calendar.[2][3]
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 February | Kashmir Solidarity Day | یومِ یکجہتیِ کشمیر Yōum-e-Yakjehtī Kashmīr | Observed to show Pakistan's support and unity with the people ofJammu and Kashmir. |
| 23 March | Pakistan Day | یومِ پاکستان Yōum-e-Pākistān | Commemorates theLahore Resolution, which formally demanded an independent Muslim-majority state to be created out of British India. The republic was also declared on this day in 1956. |
| 1 May | Labour Day | یومِ مزدور Yōum-e-Mazdoor | Celebrates the achievements of labour. |
| 28 May | Youm-e-Takbeer | یومِ تکبیر Yōum-e-Takbīr | Commemorates theChagai-I andChagai-II series of nuclear tests. |
| 14 August | Independence Day | یومِ آزادی Yōum-e-Azādī | Marking Pakistani independence and the formation ofPakistan in 1947. |
| 9 November | Iqbal Day | یومِ اقبال Yōum-e-Iqbāl | Birthday of Muhammad Iqbal, national poet of Pakistan. |
| 25 December | Quaid-e-Azam Day | یومِ قائدِاعظم Yōum-e-Quaid-e-Āzam | Birthday of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan. |
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhu al-Hijjah 10th | Eid-ul-Adha | عید الاضحٰی | Marks the end of theHajj pilgrimage; sacrifices offered on this day commemorateAbraham's willingness to sacrifice his son |
| Shawwal 1st | Eid-ul-Fitr | عيد الفطر | Marks the end of the fasting month ofRamadan |
| Rabiʽ al-Awwal 12th | Mawlid | عید میلاد النبی | Birthday of the Islamic prophetMuhammad |
| Muharram 9th & 10th | Ashura | عاشورہ/یومِ کربلا | Karbala Day for Shias to the mourn for the martyred ImamHussein ibn Ali, Grandson of ProphetMuhammad. ForSunniMuslims, Ashura marks theparting of the Red Sea by ProphetMusa and the salvation of theIsraelites. Also on this day, ProphetNuh disembarked from theArk, God forgave ProphetAdam, and ProphetYusuf was released from prison. |
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | نئے سال کا دن Nayē Sāl kā Din | Commemorates the first day of theGregorian calendar |
| Rajab 27th (27 January) | Lailat al-Miʿraj | شب معراج Shab-i Mi'rāj | Observes the night journey of Prophet Muhammad toAl-Aqsa and theheaven |
| Magha 5th (2 February) | Basant Panchami | بسنت پنچمی Basant Panchamī | Marks the start of spring and also honours the Hindu goddessSaraswati |
| Shaban 14th–15th (13–14 February) | Shab-e-Barat | شبِ برأت Shab-e-Barāt | Night of forgiveness for the Sunni Muslims |
| Phalguna 14th (26 February) | Maha Shivaratri | مہا شیوراتری Mahāshivarātri | Honours the Hindu deitiesShiva andParvati |
| First full moon ofPhalguna (14 March) | Holi | ہولی Holī | Celebrates the love between the Hindu deitiesRadha andKrishna |
| Farvardin 1st (20 March) | Nowruz | نوروز Naurōz | Persian New Year |
| Farvardin 7th (26 March) | Khordad Sal | خرداد سال Khordād Sāl | Commemorates the birthday ofZarathushtra Spitama in Zoroastrianism |
| Vaisakh 1st (14 April) | Vaisakhi | ویساکھی Vaisākhī | Celebrates the spring harvest in Punjab |
| 18 April | Good Friday | شام کلوری Shām-e-Calvary | Observes thecrucifixion of Jesus in Christianity |
| 20 April | Easter | عیدالفصح Eīd-ul-Fisah | Commemorates theresurrection of Jesus in Christianity |
| Jalál 13th (20 April) | Ridván | عید رضوان Eīd-e-Rizwān | CommemoratesBaháʼu'lláh's declaration as aManifestation of God inBaháʼí Faith |
| First full moon ofVaisakha (5 May) | Buddha's Birthday | بدھ کا جنم دن Buddhā kā Janam Din | Commemorates the birthday ofSiddhartha Gautama |
| Safar 20th (15 August) | Arba'in | چہلم Chehlum | Marks forty days afterAshura |
| Bhadra 8th (16 August) | Krishna Janmashtami | کرشنا جنم اشٹمی Krishnā Janmashṭamī | Commemorates the birthday of Hindu deityKrishna |
| Rabi' al-Thani 11th (4 September) | Gyarvi Sharif | گیارہویں شریف Gyārvī Sharīf | Commemorates the gratuity and generosity of the Sufi scholarAbdul Qadir Gilani on the 11th of every month |
| 6 September | Defence Day | یومِ دفاع Yōum-e-Difā | To commemorate the sacrifices made by Pakistani soldiers in defending its borders and interests. |
| Ashvina 6th–10th (28 September–2 October) | Durga Puja | درگا پوجا Durgā Pūjā | Celebrated because of Hindu deityDurga's victory overMahishasura |
| Ashvina 10th (2 October) | Vijayadashami | دسہرہ Dussehra | Marks the end of Durga Puja |
| Ashvina 14th (6 October) | Diwali | دیوالی Dīwālī | Symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance" in Hinduism |
| Ashvina 15th (7 October) | Guru Valmiki's Birthday | گرو والمیکی کا جنم دن Gūrū Vālmikī kā Janam Din | Commemorates the birthday of the legendary poetValmiki |
| First full moon ofKattak (5 November) | Guru Nanak Gurpurab | گرو نانک گروپورب Gūrū Nānak Gurpūrab | Commemorates the birthday of the founder ofSikhism,Guru Nanak |
In early years of its independence, people in Pakistan used to observe many multi faith holidays such as Holi, Diwali, Christmas, etc.[4] However, as the population of minority religions dropped - from about 14% in 1947[5] to 3.52% in 2017,[6] the number of multiple-faith holidays also dropped.[7] The main cause of the decline of the population minorities is the separation ofBangladesh, where the ratio of the non-Muslim to the toal populace was high.
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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