Every year in October, the Lok Virsa festival is Pakistan's greatest cultural event. This most famous festival in Pakistan has drawn worldwide craftsmen and performers from more than 20 countries around the world to perform and participate over the past two decades. For artisans and performers, it has become a source of pride.

In the federal capital of Pakistan, the provinces of Azad Jammu and Kashmir set up attractively furnished pavilions for visitors to explore Pakistan's traditionally rich culture. The festival, which takes place in Lok Virsa for ten days and features multi-ethnic work by artists working under the aegis of Heritage Museum, runs for ten days.

Lok Virsa's Research & Media Centre organizes dance groups and music concerts from all across Pakistan. Lok Virsa's researchers conduct interviews with all of the festival's craftspeople and artists in order to document the event. All provinces' culture departments, as well as the diplomatic community, are asked to set up pavilions showcasing their prestigious folk culture. The festival begins with a chadarposhi and dastarbandi ritual, which is a way for Lok Virsa to declare its dedication to artisans and folk artists' high status in the cultural mainstream.

Date: October

Independence Day is a popular festival to witness the pride and joy of Pakistan's people. Independence Day excitement can be observed in full flower, particularly in cities. People put up decorations, go to parades, join other parades with their own vehicles, and, of course, wear a lot of green!

In the days and weeks preceding up to the occasion, stores and companies begin selling a variety of green and white-colored merchandise and clothing. Lights and flags can be seen adorning cities and villages. It's a breathtaking sight to witness.

In Pakistan, festivals are quite important. Their habits, traditions, moral values, attitudes, folklore, beliefs, and goals are all based on their social heritage. They attract a large number of tourists from all over the world from a social and economic standpoint. Festivals provide a welcome relief from our hectic and stressful lives, bringing with them positivism and social gatherings that are essential for societal well-being. Festivals, no matter where you go in the globe, have a lot to offer in terms of culture, arts, holidays, togetherness, and love.

Date: August 14th

Shab-e-Barat or Barat Night is one of the major festivals for the Muslims, celebrated on the 15th night (the night on 15th only) of the month of Sha'ban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. This is one of the most famous festivals in Pakistan. This lucky night begins at sunset on Shaban 15th and concludes at daybreak on Shaban 15th. Different countries celebrate this day in distinct ways, and each has a different name for it. The Shia Mid-Sha'ban Mahdi birthday holiday is celebrated at the same time as Shab-e-Barat, however Barat has a different origin.

Shab-e-Barat is a prominent festival in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims gather to worship and ask forgiveness for their sins. It is said to bring them good luck for the rest of the year and purify them of their sins. It is also a night when prayers are said to forgive one's deceased ancestors in several regions.

Date: Night on 15 of Sha'ban, which is known as Mid-Sha'ban

Observed by: Muslims

Mela Chiraghan, also known as the 'festival of lights,' is a three-day event held to commemorate the death anniversary of Shah Hussain, a Sufi saint and poet who lived in the 16th century in Lahore. Madho Lal Hussain was a passionate Hindu follower of his work, and his shrine is named for him. This is one of the traditional and famous festivals in Pakistan.

Mela Chiraghan is held in Lahore's Baghbanpura neighborhood. The days are brimming with passion, punctuated by Sufi meditative dance and live music. This traditional event used to be the oldest in the entire subcontinent and the largest in Punjab, but it is now ranked second. It used to be held in Lahore's Shalimar Gardens, but in 1958 it was moved to Hussain's shrine.

Location: Baghbanpura, Lahore, Pakistan

Date: March 25th

Eid-ul-Azha is observed on the tenth day of the 12th Islamic month, Zil Hajj. It is a religious feast known as Eid-ul-Azha. This holy day, also known as the second Eid, commemorates the sacrifice made by the prophet Ibrahim, in which he offered his son Prophet Ismail's life to fulfill Allah's decree.

Muslims all across the world sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow, or camel in the name of Allah on this day, just as the prophet did. The sacrificed animal's meat is then divided into three parts and given to family members, friends, and, most significantly, the destitute. It is difficult to conduct sacrifices during Eid-ul-Azha because of the continuing pandemic, but thanks to the internet and technology, there are many online qurbani websites that will perform Qurbani for you.

Date: Jul 9th to Jul 13th

Observances: Sacrifice of a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo or camel, Eid prayers

The Jashan-e-Nowruz celebration is similar to the Nowruz festivals celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. From the 21st to the 23rd of March, Nowruz is observed as a socio-religious festival in Chitral, Gilgit, and Baltistan. It is widely observed in Balochistan as well as practically all of Pakistan's major cities. The famous festival lasts for several weeks.

In Baltistan, Nowruz is marked by the distribution of colored eggs to friends and family, as well as polo competitions. Outdoor feasts, traditional musical evenings, polo games, and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash away sins and bring in a fresh start of life are all part of the event in Balochistan. The origins of this popular festival may be traced back to the pre-Islamic era, when Pakistan was a part of the Persian empires of the Achaemenes and Sassanids.

To meet each other, children and women used to dress up in new outfits. Special congregations were convened in several towns, where special prayers for the country's prosperity were offered. The Nawroz holiday in Hunza area begins with agricultural activity, with locals plowing their fields.

Date: March 21st to March 23rd

The Silk Route Festival is a unique event that combines adventure, history, natural raw beauty, culture, and crafts to create an unforgettable experience.

A unique combination of natural surroundings, geography, and a privileged location among the world's highest mountains. A celebration that celebrates majestic snow peaks, gleaming glaciers, lush green fruit valleys, and a rich tradition.

Silk Route is an international and most famous festival that takes place in a variety of nations at various times and seasons. It is more common in the months of September and October in Gilgit-Baltistan. Because of the following elements, this festival is considered as one of the most inspiring and famous festivals in the world.

Highlights of the festival feature

• Folkloric songs & dance ensembles.
• Folk music group.
• Exotic craft bazaar.
• Polo matches and other sports events.
• Camping village and open-air restaurants.
• Ethnic fashion show.
• Community festivals at the district level.

Date: March 20th

Shandur Polo Festival is one of the big and famous festivals in Pakistan. Every year, Gilgit-Baltistan polo teams compete in the Shandur Polo Festival (3700 meters) at the world's highest polo ground in Babusar. The terrain is lush and green, making it a popular tourist destination for camping during the summer months of July and August. Every year in August, a polo festival is organized. Thousands of people from all around Pakistan attend the festival, where the teams compete against each other. The festival is organized by Gilgit-Tourism Baltistan's Department.

The festival is a fantastic sports event that is celebrated by the Gilgit and Chitral tribes and provides a rich cultural experience. The tribes first meet in the Shandur Pass in the Hindukush mountain range, which is breathtaking. The site is close to Shandur Lake. Folk music, dancing, and a tented village are all part of the Shandur Polo Festival.

Location: Shandur Pass, Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Date: July 7th to July 9th