Festivals

Festivals and fairs inject life and vigour in the lives of the people living anywhere in the world. Be it tomato throwing or racing in front of fuming bull, despite the danger the show goes on with lots of fun and laughter. Likewise, people in Pakistan have their own way of sharing love and joy.

Islamic Religious Festivals

Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Azha are the two major religious festivities celebrated throughout the country among its Muslim populace.

Non Muslim Religious Festivals

Spring always brings happiness and adds hues to life as flowers blossom and birds sing and chirp happily. Lahore, the city of gardens covers itself with multicolour flowers and it is then that the festivities of Spring Festival, locally known as the "Jashan-e-Baharan" get into their full swing. Likewise all over the country, the spring is welcomed with dance of men and trained animals and music. Some of the festivals worth mentioning are:

Basant The Basant or the Festival of Kite Flying is celebrated with much fanfare and pomp and show in mid February every year in Lahore. The kite flying is a favourite pastime of Lahorites who start preparing for the festivals much in advance.  The main venue for kite flying is the old Lahore, where from dawn to next dawn (including night) flyers along with their families and friends flock on the roof tops and organize competitions. The kite flying even continues during night in the flood lights and the whole old Lahore is lit up in a scene to be witnessed and not described. When one cuts the cord of the other's kite, drums are beaten and trumpets are blown. And the winner along with his friends and families dance. Sizzling traditional foods are served and everyone makes merry. Men wear yellow scarves while the ladies put on Gajras (traditional bangles made of flowers). Yellow is indeed the main colour in this event as it depicts the blossoming spring flowers in the fields of Punjab. Not to mention that over the years, the Basant Festival has somewhat become synonymous to Lahore and now coincides with the annual Horse and Cattle Show which had been forgotten for some reasons in the past. More Pictures of Basant Horse and Cattle Show This is held each year in March to celebrate the incoming spring, when there still some chill left in the air. The first Horse and Cattle Show was held in 1954 and since then the show has progressed gradually. It is held at the Fortress Stadium, in Lahore Cantonment. Basically a military fanfare, which by and by has included more of rural people who bring their well fed and high quality breed horses, cattle and other animals. Cattle races & dances, tent-pegging, folk music, dances, bands, cultural floats and folk games add colour to the festival. In the evening a special tattoo show is held by the Army which creates an atmosphere of is own with hundreds of torches lit in darkness and performed skilfully in many arrangements. Silk Route Festival When the other provinces are enjoying their festivities, the Silk Route Festival on the Roof of the world attracts visitors from many a adjoining countries including Xingjian Province of China and Central Asia flock together in the highest mountains of the world amid some breathtaking spectacles of scenic beauty, wildlife and nature and awe-inspiring snow peaks. The festival included folklore, arts, crafts and display of cultural heritage.   Sibi Mela When people in the north tuck themselves under blankets all over the country, Sibi - which lies 163 kilometres to the south east of Quetta at the mouth of the famous “Bolan Pass” almost sizzles. But this does not debar the Sibians to add colour to their lives and enjoy despite the weather odds. The traditional Sibi Mela traces its roots from the 15th century, when this town was the meeting place of all tribal chiefs of the area. The British carried on this tradition in the shape of an annual “Darbar” or meeting, combining it with a ‘Mela” (fair) where thousands of Baluchi tribesmen gathered along with their animals in mid February. Even people from Sind and Punjab also participate with their animals. Like the Horse and Cattle show in Lahore, horse and cattle and cultural shows, tent pegging, camel races, animal markets and exhibitions of handicrafts, tribal dresses and folk dances are the hallmark of Sibi Mela. Sindh Horse & Cattle Show at Jacobabad and Jashan-e-Larkana are similar to Sibi Mela and are held in last week of February.  Traditional sports, exhibition of handicrafts, folk music and dances are displayed. Likewise Jashan-e-Shikarpur in first week of April also includes cultural activities, local sports and handicrafts exhibition. The Mela Cheraghan (the Festival of Candles) is a unique festival of Lahore. It is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of March near the historic Mughal era Shalamar Gardens. The celebration is in honour of Hazrat Madho La Hussain, a mystic folk poet. The great Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar (1558 1605) was one of his devotees. The saint died in the 17th century; and a mausoleum over his grave was built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Madho Lal Hussain' Mausoleum is fabulously illuminated on his death anniversary . Shandur Polo Festival, a traditional polo tournament between the teams of Chitral and Gilgit is held every year at the Shandur Pass (Chitral district) - the highest polo ground of the world. Once the festival commences, it has lot many added attractions, like fold music, folk dances and other competitions, for the visitors and tourists who come to this rather difficult area from all over the world. A tent village along Shandur Lake is set up in cooperation with the local administration.