Imp Cities

Kashmir problem

Mountains & Hill Station

Imp Personalities

Foto Album

Why Tour Pakistan

National Holidays

Culture Of Pakistan

National HOLIDAYS OF PAKISTAN

All businesses, consulates and schools observe the following annual holidays declared by the Government of Pakistan.

FIXED DATE HOLIDAYS

March 23

Pakistan Day is observed to commemorate the passage of the famous resolution of the All India Muslim League at Lahore in 1940. A categoric demand for a separate independent state for the Muslims of the subcontinent was made. Incidentally, the first Constitution of Pakistan was promulgated on March 25, 1955.

May 1

May Day is equivalent to Labor Day in the U.S.

August 14

Independence Day is observed to celebrate the date Pakistan came into being as an independent, sovereign state. It was on August 141, 1947 that the Subcontinent was divided into two sovereign states, Pakistan and the Indian Union.

September 6

Defence of Pakistan Day commemorates the first Pakistan-India conflict in 1965, which began on September 6th and ended on September 19th, 1965.

September 11

Quaid-e-Azam's Death Anniversary is the date Mr.'Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, died in 1948. He was given the title Quaid-e-Azam, the Great Leader.

November 9

lqbal Day is in honor of the Islamic poet Dr. Muhammed. Iqbal, who played an important role in the birth of Pakistan. He was the first to advocate the formation of an independent Muslim state for the Subcontinent. He died on April 21, 1938.

December 25 Birthday of Quald-e-Azam the birth date of Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

HOLIDAYS WITH A RELIGIOUS CONNOTATION

The dates these holidays are observed depending upon the appearance of the moon. The Muslim calendar is on lunar reckoning, with the holiday not only falling each year on a different date in the western calendar, but perhaps falling in a different season. Hindu, Buddhist and Zoroastrian holidays are seasonal as are Christian Easter and Jewish Passover. In Pakistan, Friday is the Islamic holiday, corresponding with the Christian Sunday. It is an official holiday with banks, markets, and business offices closed.

Ramazan

This is a month-long time of great reverence for Muslims, coming in the ninth month of the Muslim year. It is a time of rigid fasting from just before sunrise (Sehri) to dusk or sunset (called Iftar); prayer and abstinence from specified misdeeds (lying, smoking, etc.) are part of its observance. Jummatul Wida is the last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan. Since the Muslim calendar does not correspond to our Gregorian calendar, Ramazan occurs at different times during the year.

Eid-ul-Fitr

Call as Chhoti Eid (Small Eid), Celebrates the end of Ramazan and is the most important religious event and holiday of the year for Muslims, the Feast of Rejoicing. The young of the family receive new clothes and monetary gifts.

Eid-ul-Azha

Call as Bari Eid (Big Eid), This holidays falls on the tenth and eleventh days of the Muslim month of Zilhaj which will be 68 or 69 days after Eid-ul-Fitr, depending upon the moon. The holiday is observed to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) readiness to sacrifice his son in submission to the will of God. Each family slaughters a male calf, goat or sheep. The sacrificial meat is divided into three portions, one for the needy, one for friends and one for the household.

Muharram

While all other Muslim holidays in this category are associated with joyous celebrations or festivals, this holiday, which falls on the tenth of the month of Muharram, is marked with grief. It was on this day that Hussein, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, attained martyrdom at the hands of Yazid in the battle of Karbala in Iraq. The Shias hold huge public processions where they perform self flagellations. The Sunnis also mourn the death of Hussein but in a quiet way

Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi

This holiday falls on the 12th day of the month of Rabi-ul-Awal, the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed. The day is marked with great festivity among the Muslims.

OTHER HOLIDAYS OBSERVED IN PAKISTAN BY MINORITIES

Holi

Spring festival of the Hindu community which celebrates the end of the harvest, honouring the god Krishna in March - April.

Durga Puja

Hindu festival in September - October recalling Ram Chandra's conquest over the King of Ceylon who had stolen Sita, his wife. Traditionally dedicated to the worship of Durga, the warrior goddess. Diwali Colourful Hindi festival of lamps, observed in October - November. This is the main holiday for Hindus.

Nauroze

Festival of the New Year for the Parsi community.

Christmas, New Year, Good Friday and Easter

are celebrated by the Pakistani Christian community with festivity and fervour.

  2000-01Copy Right  © Moeen Shafiq Corporation   All right reserved 

contact web master   webmaster@lovepak.8k.com