Festivals in Pakistan
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Shab-e-Barat:*
Religious festival celebrated on 14th of Shaaban, the 8th Islamic month.Prayers, fireworks, exchange of sweet dishes and visits.
Eid-ul-Fitr*:
Religious festival celebrating end of fasting month on 1st of Shawwal,the 10thmonth of Islamic Calendar. Special prayer after sun-rise, exchange ofsweet dishes,visits.
Sibi Festival:(Last week of February)
At Sibi (Balochistan). Traditional sports, handicrafts exhibition, folk musicanddances.
Sindh Horse & Cattle Show:(Last week of February)
At Jacobabad (Sindh). Similar activities as in Sibi Festival.
Jashan-e-Larkana:(Last week of February) At Larkana(Sindh). Traditional sports, exhibition of handicrafts, folk music and dances.
With the advent of spring Basant Festival is celebrated with pomp and show inmidFebruary every year in Lahore. In other words this is the spring festival.
Alleging that kite flying is a Hindu event is also sheer ignorance. The sportoriginatedin China about 5000 years ago, when Hinduism was in non existent. Why single outkite-flying then, especially when it is a source of joy for the old and theyoung men andwomen? The simple reason is that Hindu at Basant Festival fly kites forenjoying Basant.With times Muslims who were living together with Hindus in the sub-continentalso jointhem in kite-flying. Since then Muslims are taking participation in justkite-flying atthe time of Basant connotating it as Pala Urant. Now a days people of Lahoreenjoy it bykite flying competition and by visiting the shrine of saint Madho Lal Hussein,where theyassemble to pay their benediction.
Lahore is becoming the main focal point for the celebration of this festival inPakistan.People traditionally fly kites on the roofs of their buildings. It is commonlyobservedthat rest houses, hotels and house of relatives of the participants are fullypacked withguests from all over the country. Moreover some five star hotels also arrangethisfunction on their roof top for foreigners and other high class gentry. Theyalso arrangevariety of dishes with musical concert. Sometimes Lahorities on this occasionbecomeemotional and in this state create law and order problems for theadministration. Some ofthem use metal thread for kite-flying. Their such a deed oftenly imposes,besides lifethreat, a serious problem for WAPDA when the thread touches the live wires.
In spite of the fact Basant Festival which has no links with the Muslim cultureis becomingvery popular and being celebrated in Lahore regularly every year with zeal andfervent.
Nauroze: (21-23 March)
Celebrated only in Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Chitral. Polo, foot-ball,volley-ball andhockey matches, folk dances and music.
Pakistan Day *: (23 March)
Commemorating the anniversary of Pakistan Resolution passed on March 23, 1940.Militaryparade at provincial capitals and Islamabad.
Mela Chiraghan (Festival of lamps):
(Last week of March)
Held for 01 week outside Shalimar Gardens, Lahore.
Horse & Cattle Show:
(End of March till 1st week of April).
At Dera Ismail Khan. Local games, folk dances, music, cattle races andexhibition of localhandicrafts.
Jashan-e-Shikarpur:(In April for 01 week)
At Shikarpur, Sindh. Cultural activities, local sports and handicraftsexhibition.
Eid-ul-Azha *:
Religious festival commemorating the great sacrifice offered by Prophet Abraham.Celebrated on 10 Zilhaj, 12th month of Islamic Calendar. Collective prayersafter sun set,sacrifice of goats, sheep, cows or camels and distribution of meat amongrelatives,friends and poor.
Joshi or Chilimjusht: (14-15 May)
Kalash festival of welcoming spring, held in Kalash Valleys near Chitral. Folkdances,music and exchange of dishes.
Shandur Polo Festival
Traditional polo tournament between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit is beingheld on thehighest polo ground of the world - The Shandur Pass (Chitral district). Alliedactivitiesinclude fold music, folk dances and other competitions. A tent village alongShandur Lakewill be set up in cooperation with the local administration.
Utchal:(15-16 July)
A harvest festival, celebrated by Kalash people in Kalash Valleys, Chitral.
Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi *:
Birth Anniversary of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H). on 12th ofRabi-ul-Awwal - the 3rdmonth of Islamic Calendar.
Independence Day *:(14 August)
Meeting, processions, rallies, decorations and illustrations all over thecountry.
Defense of Pakistan Day: (06 September)
Parades and exhibitions of military equipment at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar,Quetta andKarachi. Visits to the war memorials. (No national holiday except Armed Forces)
Air force Day: (07 September)
Display of latest aircraft of Pakistan Air force and air shows at Rawalpindi,Sargodha,Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
Phool:(20 - 25 September)
Held in Kalash Valleys near Chitral. Reaping grapes and walnuts, dancing andsinging.
Lok Mela:(1st week of October, for one week)
Folk Festival held at Islamabad. Folk Music, songs, music contests, folkdances, craftsmenat work, exhibition and sale of handicrafts. The festival presents auniqueopportunity to watch the culture and craft of the whole country at one place.
Chowmas: (18-21 October)
Held in Kalash Valleys near Chitral. Welcoming of winter with first snow-fall.Activitiesrestrict to indoor.
Karakoram Car Rally:
A colorful closing/award giving ceremony was held in Hunza Valley. Prizes,shields,certificates were distributed among the ralliers. SAF-International KarakoramCar Rallywas also planned for year 2001, but it was postponed. International KarakoramCar Rallyhas been proposed to be held during the month of November in 2002 as part of theInternational Year of Mountains celebrations
Birthday of Allama Muhammad Iqbal:.(09 November)
National Poet * .
National Industrial Exhibition Islamabad:
Exhibition and sale of Pakistan’s industrial products and handicraft items
National Industrial Exhibition Lahore:
(3rd week of November for 15 days)
Held at Fortress Stadium, Lahore. Exhibition and sale of industrialproducts andhandicrafts of Pakistan.
National Horse & Cattle Show Lahore:
(3rd week of November for 05 days )
Held at Fortress Stadium, Lahore. Cattle races, cattle dances, tent-pegging,tattoo show,folk music, dances, bands, cultural floats and folk games.
The show has been described as an eloquent expression of Pakistan's heritageand anauthentic account of its agricultural and industrial achievement's. It is heldin LahoreFortress stadium at the end of February or at First week of March. The fortressstadium,the venue of the show is thronged by active participants, foreign visitors andpeoples whowatch the festival with great enthusiasm, verve and aplomb.
A large number of them are interested in watching and appreciating the bestbreeds oflivestock. Many derive pleasure by watching other activities such as displayparade ofanimals, dances by horses and camels, polo matches, tent pegging, dog shows andtheirraces, vaudeville acts of stuntmen, mass display of military band, rhythmicallyphysicalexercise by the children.
Tastefully decorated industrial floats and torch light tattoo shows. Additionalattractions include a subtle interplay of lights to weave enticing patterns atnight andbreath taking acts by foreign groups. The show began as a modest exhibitionorganized bythe army to project the cattle wealth of the country in the early fifties.
Today it is an international event to which come dignitaries from abroad andvisitors andforeign tourists. The organizing committee comprises representatives of anumber ofagencies including army, rangers, LMC schools, the police, industrialists andthe artcouncils.
Christmas and Birth Anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam*: (25 December)
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