Events & Festivals in Pakistan

Pakistan is a multicultural country. Besides the religious festivals, there are many other cultural and festive events taking place all around the year all over Pakistan.

These events include exhibitions, festivals and local events. Here’s a list of festivals and events happening in Pakistan;

1: Eid-ul-Fitr

Eid-ul-fitr is the biggest Muslim festival celebrated all over Pakistan.  It is celebrated after one month of fasting during the month of Ramadan.  Celebrated on the 1st of Shawwal, the 10th month of Islamic Calendar, The Eid day starts with the special Eid prayers. People exchange gifts and sweet with each other and alms to the poor and the needy.  

2: Eid-ul-Azha

Eid-ul-Azha is also another massive religious festival commemorating the great sacrifice offered by Prophet Ibrahim. It is celebrated on the 10^th of Zilhaj, the 12th month in the Islamic Calendar. Collective prayers are offered after sunset and the sacrifice of goats, sheep, cows or camels is made and the meat is distributed among relatives, friends and poor.

3: Shab-e-Barat

Shab-e-Barat is a religious festival celebrated on 14th of Shaaban, the 8th Islamic month. The day is celebrated with special Prayers and exchange of sweet dishes.

4: 23^rd March- Pakistan Day

Pakistan Day commemorates the anniversary of Pakistan’s Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940. Military parade is held at Lahore Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi. Its main feature however remains the grand parade at Islamabad.

5: Mela Chiraghan (Festival of lamps)

Mela Chiraghan is held for one week outside the Shalimar Garden in Lahore. It marks the birth day of the famous Sufi Port Shah Hussain. The festival is celebrated on the last week of March

6: Horse & Cattle Show

Celebrated at Dera Ismail Khan (DIK), the festival includes local games, folk dances, music, cattles races and exhibition of local handicrafts. The Festival takes place at the end of March till 1st week of April.

7: Eid-e-Miland-un-Nabi

The Birthday of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) on 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal - the 3rd of month of Islamic Calendar. It is a very mellow festival and celebrated with humbleness.

8: Ashura

The Two days mourning on the death anniversary of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) on 9th and 10th of Moharram, the first month of Islamic Calendar. The event is marked by Processions, rallies and meeting.  

9: Independence Day

The National day of Pakistan is the Independence Day, celebrated every year on the 14^th of August. The day is celebrated with various processions, rallies, decorations and lightings, debating contests and 14 August illustrations all over the country.

10: Defense Day

Marking the great defense Pakistan held against India in the war of 1965, the Defense Day is celebrated on the 6^th of September includes Parades and exhibitions of military equipment at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi.

11: Airforce Day

The Airforce day highlights the contributions, the strength and the bravery of the Air Force of Pakistan. Celebrated on 7^th September many display of latest aircrafts of Pakistan Airforce are displayed for the public eye. The air shows at Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta is another attractive highlight of the day.  

12: Death Anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam

Marked as an official holiday, 11^th September is celebrated as the death anniversary of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the father of the nation.

13: Lok mela

Lok Mela is a famous folk festival held at Islamabad. Folk Music, songs music contests, folk dances, craftsmen at work, exhibition and sale of handicrafts are the highlights of the events. The festival presents a unique opportunity to watch the culture and craft of the whole country at one place. It is celebrated during the 1st week of October.

14: Birthday of Allama Iqbal

9^th November is celebrated as the birthday of the National Poet of Pakistan Dr. M. Allama Iqbal. The event is celebrated with a lot of debating and poetry contests held at different institutes all over Pakistan.

15: National Horse & Cattle Show Lahore

Held at the Fortress Stadium Lahore, the Horse and Cattle show is a famous event in Lahore. The event’s highlights include Cattle races, cattle dances, tent-pegging, tattoo show, folk music, dances, bands, cultural floats and folk games. It takes place on the 3rd week of November for 15 days.

16: Christmas and Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam

Celebrated on the same date of the year the Christmas and the birthday of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam are two famous events in Pakistan, celebrated by the Christian minority and the whole nation.

17: BASANT Basant is the Festival of Kites. Celebrated basically in Lahore, Basant is now renowned all over Pakistan with Lahore as the centre. Basant is the time when skies are filled with kites of all colours.

It is during spring when the trees are in blooming, and everyone in the city is carried away by the light-hearted beauty of the kites. Today Basant is considered a traditional and cultural event. The event has boosted the Kite industry as well as tourism from all over the world.