Festivals of Pakistan
Pakistan's festival calendar mixes religious observance, harvest and seasonal gatherings, and regional sporting events. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the two national religious holidays; the Shandur Polo Festival, played each July at 3,700 metres, is the highest polo tournament in the world.
Festival pages give the date or season, the location, what actually happens and how to attend, from the Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sehwan to the Kalash Chilam Joshi in Chitral and the Cholistan Jeep Rally in Bahawalpur.
Quick facts
- Highest polo ground
- Shandur, about 3,700 m
- Largest Sufi urs
- Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan
- National day
- 23 March
What this section covers
- Religious
Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Ramadan, Muharram
- Sufi urs
Sehwan Sharif, Data Darbar, Uch Sharif
- Kalash festivals
Chilam Joshi, Uchal, Chawmos in Chitral
- Sporting
Shandur polo, Cholistan Jeep Rally
- Seasonal
Basant, Sibi Mela, cherry and apricot blossom
In this section
Seasonal festivalsSeasonal festivals in Pakistan track the agricultural and pastoral year. Basant marks the end of winter in Punjab with kite flying; Nauroz on 21 March is observed in Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Balochistan; the Kalash of Chitral hold Chilam Joshi in May, Uchal in August and Chaumos at the winter solstice.
Sporting festivals and regional melasPakistan's largest regional gatherings mix sport, livestock and trade. The Shandur Polo Festival is played each July on a ground at about 3,700 metres, the highest polo ground in the world; the Cholistan Jeep Rally runs each February near Derawar Fort; and the Sibi Mela in Balochistan has been held annually since the 19th century.
Detailed pages
Individual pages for these topics are being researched and written. The overview above is complete and sourced; continue with the Pakistan index or the related sections below.
Key dates and milestones
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| February | Cholistan Jeep Rally, Bahawalpur |
| March | Sibi Mela, Balochistan; Pakistan Day on 23 March |
| May | Kalash Chilam Joshi, Chitral |
| July | Shandur Polo Festival at about 3,700 metres |
| Sha'ban | Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan Sharif |
Practical notes
- Religious dates follow the lunar Hijri calendar and shift about 11 days earlier each year.
- Shandur and Kalash festivals fill local guesthouses; book several weeks ahead.
- Dress modestly at shrines and urs gatherings, and ask before photographing people.
Where in Pakistan
Sindh · Punjab · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa · Gilgit-Baltistan · Balochistan
Frequently asked questions
- What is the highest polo ground in the world?
- Shandur Pass, at about 3,700 metres between Chitral and Gilgit, where the Shandur Polo Festival is held each July.
- What are the Kalash festivals?
- Chilam Joshi in May, Uchal in August and Chawmos in December, held in the Kalash valleys of Chitral by the Kalash community, Pakistan's smallest religious minority.
- What is an urs?
- The annual commemoration of a Sufi saint's death, held at their shrine with music, langar and pilgrimage. The largest in Pakistan is for Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sehwan Sharif in Sindh.