List of Famous and Traditional Festivals in Pakistan
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Loading... - Aslesha Amle
- 29 Jun 2022
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A lot of festivals are celebrated in Pakistan annually, each has its own importance, features, and joy. Being an integral part of society, they are welcomed with music, dance, fireworks, and food. Festivals celebrated in Pakistan include both Islamic and cultural.
Most Celebrated Festivals of Pakistan
Let us walk through a list of some of the famous and traditional festivals of Pakistan.
- Shab-e-Barat
- Mela Chiraghan
- Eid-ul-Azha
- Jashan-e-Nowruz
- Silk Route Festival
- Shandur Polo Festival
- Lok Virsa Folk Festival
- Independence Day
Shab-e-Barat
An optional holiday that is celebrated on the 14th and 15th night of the Islamic month of Shabaan. It is regarded as the night on which fate and fortune are decided. A night to repent and ask for forgiveness. South Asian sweet called ‘halwa’ is distributed among families and neighbours. Donations are also given to the poor.
Mela Chiraghan
Known as the ‘festival of lights’, Mela Chiraghan is a 3-day festival celebrated to commemorate the death anniversary of Shah Hussain who was a Sufi saint and poet that lived in the 16th century in the city of Lahore. The shrine is named Madho Lal Hussain, Madho was a devoted Hindu follower of his work.
The festival takes place in the Baghbanpura area of Lahore. The days are full of zeal, rejoiced with a Sufi meditative dance and live music. This traditional festival used to be the oldest celebration in the entire subcontinent and the largest in Punjab but currently stands at second number. It used to be celebrated at the Shalimar Gardens of Lahore but was relocated to Hussain’s shrine in 1958.
Eid-Ul-Azha
Eid ul Azha is celebrated on the 10th day of the Zil Hajj which is the 12th Islamic month. Eid-ul-Azha is a religious holiday. This holy day known as the second Eid is celebrated in the memory of the sacrifice made by the prophet Ibrahim, wherein he offered the life of his son Prophet Ismail to fulfil the decree of Allah.
On this day Muslims around the world sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel in the name of Allah, the same way it was done by the prophet. The meat of the sacrificed animal is then divided into three parts and distributed among family members, friends and most importantly the poor. With the ongoing pandemic, it is very difficult to perform sacrifices this Eid ul Adha but thanks to the internet and technology, there are many online qurbani websites that will perform Qurbani for you.
Jashan-e-Nowruz
(March 21st – 23rd) this festival is like Nowruz of Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. In Chitral, Gilgit, and Baltistan, Nowruz is celebrated as a socio-religious festival from 21st to 23rd March. It is celebrated with much fervor in Balochistan and in almost all of Pakistan’s major urban centers. The celebration lasts for weeks.
In Baltistan, the main features of Nowruz include distributing colored eggs to friends and family and polo matches. In Balochistan, the festival is, however, marked with outdoor feasts, traditional musical evenings, polo games and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash away sins to usher in a fresh start of life. The origin of this festival goes back to a pre-Islamic era when Pakistan was part of the Achaemenes and Sassanid Persian empires. Children and women used to dress up in new clothes to greet each other. Special congregations were held in different towns where special prayers were offered for the prosperity of the country. In Hunza district, the Nawroz festival is started off with agriculture activities, as people begin to plough their fields.
Silk Route Festival
Silk route festival is an exceptional and amazing combination of adventure, history, natural raw beauty, culture, and crafts – all creating a unique experience that should not be missed.
A blend of natural environs, the landscape along with a privileged location in the highest mountains of the world. A festival that embodies breathtaking snow peaks, sparkling glaciers, lush green valleys of fruits and an unexplored heritage.
Silk Route is an international festival that is observed in multiple countries with different time and seasons. In Gilgit-Baltistan, it is commonly observed in the month of September or October. This festival is known as one of the most inspiring festivals of the world owing to the following features that it offers. Read More...
