BrittnyFiorillo at 19:39, 19 January 2026

2026-01-19T19:39:44Z

New page

{{Punjabis}}[[Punjabis]] are the majority [[ethnic group]] in [[Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Svanberg |first=Ingvar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jt8rBgAAQBAJ&dq=current+muslim+population+punjab+pakistan&pg=PA225 |title=Islam Outside the Arab World |last2=Westerlund |first2=David |date=December 6, 2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-11322-2 |language=en}}</ref> They celebrate a number of religious and cultural festivals:

==List and description of Islamic festivals==
Religious festivals are determined by the [[Islamic calendar]].
{|class="wikitable sortable plainlinks"
!Festival
!Date Observed (from year to year dates vary)
!Pictures
!Description
|--
||[[Mid-Sha'ban|Shab-e-Barat]]||[[Sha'ban]] ([[Islamic calendar]])||||Shab-e-barat (lailat ul-barat or the night of deliverance) is held in the middle of Shaban (eighth month of the Islamic calendar). It is regarded as a night when the fortunes of men for the coming year are decided and when [[Allah]] may forgive sinners. Believers offer special prayers for unity, prosperity, security and restoration of peace in the country and the prosperity and unity of entire Muslim Ummah. Mosques in places such as [[Lahore]] are decorated to celebrate the occasion while arrangements for refreshments and food are also made to facilitate worshippers. Worshippers also visit graveyards to pray for the departed souls.<ref>{{cite news |date=2017-05-14 |title=Shab-e-Barat observed |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/203901-Shab-e-Barat-observed |work=The News International}}</ref>
|--
||[[Eid ul-Adha]]||Zilhij ([[Islamic calendar]])||[[File:The Badshahi in all its glory during the Eid Prayers.JPG|thumb|left|Eid prayer in [[Badshahi Mosque]], [[Lahore]] ]] ||Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated to commemorate the occasion when Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son, Ismail, on God's command. Abraham was awarded by God by replacing Ismail with a goat. Muslims make pilgrimage ([[hajj]]) to [[Mecca]] during this time.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mohiuddin |first=Yasmeen Niaz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OTMy0B9OZjAC&dq=eid+ul+azha&pg=PA296 |title=Pakistan: A Global Studies Handbook |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-85109-801-9}}</ref> Muslims sacrifice animals including cow, goat, sheep and camel according to their purchasing power.<ref>{{cite news |date=2016-09-06 |title=Eid-ul-Azha holidays announced |url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/352210-EidulAzha-holidays-announced |work=Dunya News}}</ref> The children celebrate Eid ul-Adha and Eid ul-Fitr with great pump and show and receive gifts and Eidi (money) from parents and others.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DHeFAAAAIAAJ&q=eidi++ |title=1998 provincial census report of Punjab |year=2001 |publisher=Population Census Organization}}</ref>
|--
||[[Eid-ul-Fitr]]||Ramadan ([[Islamic calendar]])|| ||Ramadan is the time of fasting that continues throughout the ninth month.<ref>{{cite book |last1=DuMoulin |first1=Barbara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QysY7lNWnPkC&dq=Eid-ul-Fitr+end+of+ramadan&pg=PA27 |title=Celebrating Our Cultures: Language Arts Activities for Classroom Teachers |last2=Sikundar |first2=Sylvia |publisher=Pembroke Publishers Limited |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-55138-102-2}}</ref> On this day, after a month of fasting, Muslims express their joy and happiness by offering a congregational prayer in the mosques. Special celebration meals are served.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhalla |first=Kartar Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WORYY5Vl0ygC&dq=Eid-ul-Fitr+end+of+ramadan&pg=PP17 |title=Let's Know Festivals of India |publisher=Star Publications |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7650-165-1}}</ref>
|--
||[[Mawlid|Eid-e-Milad-un- Nabi]]|| Rabi'al-Awal ([[Islamic calendar]])||[[File:International Mawlid Conference at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore by Minhaj-ul-Quran1.jpg|thumb|left|International Mawlid Conference, [[Minar-e-Pakistan]], [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]].]]|| [[Mawlid|Eid-e-Milad-un- Nabi]] is an Islamic festival in honour of the birthday of Muhammad.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wuIcAAAAMAAJ&q=illuminations |title=Guide to Lahore |date=1965 |publisher=Ferozsons}}</ref> The festival is observed in the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar called Rabi'al-Awal.<ref>{{cite book |last=Edelstein |first=Sari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lj0CeaIIETkC&dq=Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi+punjab&pg=PA260 |title=Food, Cuisine, and Cultural Competency for Culinary, Hospitality, and Nutrition Professionals |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7637-5965-0}}</ref> Various processions take place in [[Lahore]] to celebrate the festival.<ref>{{cite news |date=2013-01-25 |title=City celebrates Eid Miladun Nabi |url=https://nation.com.pk/lahore/25-Jan-2013/city-celebrates-eid-miladun-nabi |work=The Nation}}</ref> According to Nestorovic (2016), hundreds of thousands of people gather at Minare-Pakistan, Lahore, between the intervening night of 11th and 12th Rabi' al-awwal of the Islamic calendar.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nestorović |first=Čedomir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LXJBDAAAQBAJ&q=Milad+nabi+&pg=PA215 |title=Islamic Marketing: Understanding the Socio-Economic, Cultural, and Politico-Legal Environment |publisher=Springer |year=2016 |isbn=978-3-319-32754-9}}</ref> The festival was declared a national holiday in Pakistan in 1949.<ref>{{cite web |last=Paracha |first=Nadeem |date=2017-02-02 |title=Pakistan: The lesser-known histories of an ancient land |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1312059 |website=F. Dawn}}</ref>
|--
||[[Mourning of Muharram|Muharram]] || [[Muharram]] ([[Islamic calendar]])||[[File:A street observation of Muharram in Lahore Pakistan.jpg|thumb|left|A street observation of Muharram in Lahore Pakistan]]|| Remembrance of [[Mourning of Muharram|Muharram]] is a set of rituals associated with both [[Shia]] and [[Sunni]] Muslims.<ref name="Calmard 2">{{cite web |last1=Jean |first1=Calmard |year=2011 |title=AZĀDĀRĪ |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/azadari |website=iranicaonline}}</ref> The event marks the anniversary of the [[Battle of Karbala]] when Imam [[Hussein ibn Ali]], the grandson of [[Muhammad]], was killed by the forces of the second [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad caliph]] [[Yazid I]] at [[Karbala]]. Family members, accompanying [[Hussein ibn Ali]], were killed or subjected to humiliation. The commemoration of the event during yearly mourning season, from first of [[Muharram]] to twentieth of [[Safar]] with [[Day of Ashura|Ashura]] comprising the focal date, serves to define [[Shia Islam|Shia]] communal identity.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Martín |first1=Richard C. |title=Encyclopedia of Islam & the Muslim World |date=2004 |publisher=Macmillan Reference USA |page=488}}</ref> Various Tazia, Alam and Zuljinnah processions are taken out in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2016-10-26 |title=Punjab marks Ashura with fervour amid tight security |url=https://nation.com.pk/national/26-Oct-2015/punjab-marks-ashura-with-fervour-amid-tight-security |work=The Nation}}</ref>
|--
|}

==List and description of festivals observed at shrines==
The festivals held at shrines are determined by the [[Islamic calendar]] and the [[Punjabi calendar]].
{|class="wikitable sortable plainlinks"
!Festival
!Date Observed (from year to year dates vary)
!Pictures
!Description
|--
||[[Mela Chiraghan]]|| (Varies)||[[File:Shrine of Maddho Lal Hussein, Lahore.JPG|thumb|left|170px|Shrine of Maddho Lal Hussein, Lahore]]||Mela Chiraghan is a three-day annual festival to mark the [[urs]] (death anniversary) of the [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] [[Sufi]] poet and saint [[Shah Hussain]] (1538-1599)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Nagendra Kr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jjNuAAAAMAAJ&q=shah+hussain+1538-1599 |title=Encyclopaedia of Muslim Biography: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh |date=2001 |publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation |isbn=978-81-7648-235-6 |language=en}}</ref> who lived in Lahore in the 16th century.
It takes place at the shrine of Shah Hussain in [[Baghbanpura]], on the outskirts of [[Lahore]], Pakistan, adjacent to the [[Shalimar Gardens (Lahore)|Shalimar Gardens]].
|--
||Baha-ud-Din Zakariya||Safar (Islamic calendar)||[[File:Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan 2013 3.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Bahauddin Zakariya Tomb]]||Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya known as Bahawal Haq was born at Kot Aror near [[Multan]], towards the end of twelfth century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dhillon |first=Dalbir Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=osnkLKPMWykC&dq=Baha+ud+din+Zakariya+born+multan&pg=PA48 |title=Sikhism, Origin and Development |date=1988 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distri |language=en}}</ref> The annual festival of Baha-ud-Din Zakariya's death is celebrated on 27th Safar, the second month of [[Islamic calendar]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Virsa |first=Lok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TGZWAAAAMAAJ&q=Bahauddin+Zakariya+festivals |title=Folk Heritage of Pakistan |date=1977 |publisher=Institute of Folk Heritage |language=en}}</ref>
|--
||Data Baksh||Safar (Islamic calendar)||[[File:Beautiful Compound of Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Shrine, Lahore - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Compound of Data Ganj Baksh Shrine, Lahore]]||Abul Hassan Ali Ibn Usman al-Jullabi al-Hajveri al-Ghaznawi or Abul Hassan Ali Hajvari, also known as Daata Ganj Bakhsh, which means ''the master who bestows treasures'') was a [[Sufi]] of the 11th century. He was born around 990 CE near [[Ghazni]], present day [[Afghanistan]], during the [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid Empire]] and died in [[Lahore]] in 1072 CE. Ali Hajvari is famous for his [[Data Durbar Complex|mausoleum]] in Lahore, which is surrounded by a large marble courtyard, a mosque and other buildings. It is the most frequented of all the shrines in that city, and one of the most famous in Pakistan and nearby countries.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wach |first=Joachim |year=1948 |title=Spiritual Teachings in Islam: A Study |journal=[[The Journal of Religion]] |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=263–80 |doi=10.1086/483758 |issn=1549-6538 |jstor=1199083 |s2cid=170287582}}</ref> His Urs is on the 19th of the Islamic month of Safar.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nichloson |first=Reynold |title=Kashf al-Mahjub of al-Hajvari |publisher=E.J.W. GIBB MEMORIAL |year=2000}}</ref>
|--
||Sakhi Sarwar urs||Baisakh (Punjabi calendar)|| [[File:Annual Urs celebrations at the shrine of Hazrat syed Zain ul Abideen,sultan sarwar.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Annual Urs celebrations at the shrine of Syed Zain ul Abideen, Sultan Sarwar]]|| Syed Ahmad Sultan, popularly known as Sakhi Sarwar, was a 12th-century Sufi saint of the Punjab.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhatti |first=Harvinder Singh |title=Folk religion: change and continuity |date=2000 |publisher=Rawat Publications |isbn=978-81-7033-608-2 |location=Jaipur}}</ref> Various fairs are held in the [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]. The shrine at Nigaha holds a week-long Baisakhi fair in the month of April.<ref name="dawn">{{cite web |date=15 April 2014 |title=Sakhi Sarwar: The shrine on the mountain |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1100057 |accessdate=2016-08-01 |publisher=dawn.com}}</ref>
|--
||Sakhi Ghulam Qadir||10 Chait (Punjabi calendar)||||The urs are celebrated on 10 Chait. His shrine is about 5 kilometres away from Pak Pattan.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Virsa |first=Lok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TGZWAAAAMAAJ&q=chait |title=Folk Heritage of Pakistan |date=1977 |publisher=Institute of Folk Heritage |language=en}}</ref>
|--
||Baba Farid urs||Muharram (Islamic calendar)||[[File:Bab-e-Jannat at Darbar Hazrat Baba Farid ud Deen Ganj Shakar Rahmatullah Alaih - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Bab-e-Jannat at Darbar Baba Farid ud Deen Ganj Shakar]]|| Shaikh Farid was a thirteenth-century saint. The Urs (death anniversary) of [[Baba Farid]], takes place at the Muharram (the first month of the Muslim calendar).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mir |first=Farina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EUPc5pDWKikC&dq=baba+farid+urs+month&pg=PA103 |title=The Social Space of Language: Vernacular Culture in British Colonial Punjab |date=2010 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-26269-0 |language=en}}</ref> Up to 0.9 million devotees visited the shrine during the urs in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Oct 2016 |title=Baba Farid Urs concludes |url=https://nation.com.pk/12-Oct-2016/baba-farid-urs-concludes |website=The Nation}}</ref>

The ''Bahishtī Darwāza'' (Gate of Paradise) is opened only once a year, during the time of the [[Urs]] fair. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the country and the world come to pay homage. The door of the Bahishti Darwaza is made of silver, with floral designs inlaid in gold leaf. This "Gate to Paradise" is padlocked all year, and only opened for ten days from sunset to sunrise in the month of Muharram. Some followers believe that by crossing this door all of one's sins are washed away.<ref>{{cite book |last=Caghtai |first=Muhammad Abdullah |title=Pakpattan and Baba Farid Ganj-i-Shakar |publisher=Kitab Khana Nauras |year=1968}}</ref>
|--
||Urs of [[Waris Shah]]||9-11 Sawan (Punjabi calendar) ||||The urs of Punjabi poet and saint Waris Shah is held at Jandiala Sher Khan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2013 |title=Urs of Waris Shah begins |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1044994 |website=Dawn}}</ref> The urs are held on the 9-11 of the month of Sawan in the Punjabi calendar.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raudvere |first=Catharina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U_oBAwAAQBAJ&dq=waris+shah+urs++savan&pg=PA154 |title=Sufism Today: Heritage and Tradition in the Global Community |last2=Stenberg |first2=Leif |date=2008 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |isbn=978-0-85771-713-9 |language=en}}</ref> Recently the Punjab Government has decided to celebrate the urs in September.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ali, Sarwat (28.08.2016) TNS. The mantra of authenticity |url=http://tns.thenews.com.pk/mantra-authenticity/#.WR_oFWjytPY |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903171815/http://tns.thenews.com.pk/mantra-authenticity/#.WR_oFWjytPY |archive-date=2016-09-03 |access-date=2017-05-20}}</ref> The saint is famous for his composition of the love epic Heer.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VMyGCgAAQBAJ&dq=waris+shah+heer+famous&pg=PA307 |title=Sharing the Earth: An International Environmental Justice Reader |date=2015 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-4770-7 |language=en}}</ref>
|--
||[[Mian Mir]] fairs||Varies||[[File:Mian-Mir-Mausoleum.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Mian-Mir-Mausoleum]]||Mian Mir died in Lahore in 1045 A.H. (1635 AD) at the advanced age of 88 years, having lived in [[Lahore]] for sixty years. In addition to the fair on the anniversary, other fairs are held at his mausoleum during the two months of the rainy season.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhry |first=Nazir Ahmad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIPjAAAAMAAJ&q=mian+mir+anniversary |title=Lahore: Glimpses of a Glorious Heritage |date=1998 |publisher=Sang-e-Meel Publications |isbn=978-969-35-0944-1 |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==List and description of cultural festivals==
Cultural festivals are determined by the [[Gregorian calendar]] or the [[Punjabi calendar]].
{|class="wikitable sortable plainlinks"
!Festival
!Date Observed (from year to year dates vary)
!Description
|--
||[[Punjabi Culture Day]]||14 March ([[Gregorian calendar]])||[[File:Culture of province punjab.jpg|thumb|200px|Punjabi cultural celebration]] [[Punjabi culture day]] is celebrated on 14 March for the celebration and demonstration of [[Punjabi culture]] by [[Punjabis]] and [[Punjabi diaspora]]. On Punjabi culture day, events such as [[Folk music of Punjab|music]], [[Folk dances of Punjab|dance]], [[Bhangra (dance)|bhangra]], plays, exhibition, film festival, [[Punjabi cuisine|food]] and [[Punjabi clothing|traditional dress]]es in the form of stalls to introduce cultural values to new generations of Punjabis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2020 |title=Punjab Culture Day on 14th |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/627757-punjab-culture-day-on-14th |access-date=2020-03-14 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |language=en}}</ref> In different programmes, tribute are paid to masters in the field of Fine Arts with purpose of promoting love and courtesy on national level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lahore Arts Council To Celebrate Punjab Cultural Day At Alhamra |url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/lahore-arts-council-to-celebrate-punjab-cultu-862616.html |access-date=2020-03-14 |website=UrduPoint |language=en}}</ref>
|--
||National Horse and Cattle Show||Varies||[[File:Malik Ata at Horse and Cattle Show Lahore.jpg|thumb|100px|Horse and Cattle Show Lahore]][[File:Tent Pegging, Pindi Gheb, Pakistan.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Tent Pegging]]Lahore hosts the annual National Horse and Cattle show.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rengel |first=Marian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WJMlW-zDE14C&dq=cattle+shows+pakistan&pg=PT59 |title=Pakistan: A Primary Source Cultural Guide |date=2003 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc |isbn=978-0-8239-4001-1 |language=en}}</ref> The show features tattoo shows, tent-pegging, horse dancing, dog races, polo, equestrian jumping, exhibition of industrial and agricultural products, besides, competition of milk-producing animals among cattle breeders.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2015 |title=Horse and Cattle Show stages comeback |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1167471 |website=Dawn}}</ref>
|--
||Literary festivals||Varies||Various literary festivals are held in the Punjab. One such festival is the Lyallpur Suleikh Mela which hosts the event through the medium of the Punjabi language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bangash |first=Yaqoob Khan |date=2017-02-26 |title=Lyallpur, literary festivals and language |url=http://tns.thenews.com.pk/lyallpur-literary-festivals-language/#.WSBUyIzyvIU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515225119/http://tns.thenews.com.pk/lyallpur-literary-festivals-language/#.WSBUyIzyvIU |archive-date=2017-05-15 |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=TNS - The News on Sunday |language=en-US}}</ref>
|--
||[[Pakistan Day]]||23 March ([[Gregorian calendar]])||[[File:Pakistan Resolution Day.JPG|thumb|The [[Sherdils]] of [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] performing [[Aerobatics|aerial acrobatics]] during the [[Pakistan Day Parade 2015|2015 parade]]]] Pakistan day, on which Pakistan Resolution was passed in 1940, is celebrated in the country. Illumination of important buildings and military parade at [[Islamabad]] are the main events of the festival<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EWx_NiC9ANQC&q=pakistan+day |title=Statistical Pocket-book of Pakistan |date=2012 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Minar-e-Pakistan 1 lahore.JPG|thumb|left|The ''[[Minar-e-Pakistan]]'' glances on the eve of 23 March 2014.]]
[[File:Kakul Passingoutprade Oweis.JPG|thumb|centre|Parallel steps by [[Pakistan Army]].]]
|--
||[[Lohri]] || [[Poh]] ([[Punjabi calendar]]) ||[[File:Lohri.jpg|thumb|200px|Lohri bonfire
]] [[Lohri]] is a midwinter Punjabi festival that marks the passing of the winter solstice and the end of winter. It is celebrated in the month of [[Poh]] in the [[Punjabi calendar]] every year.
|--
||[[Baisakhi]] || [[Vaisakh]] ([[Punjabi calendar]]) April ||[[File:Culture of province punjab.jpg|thumb|Various festivals in rural Punjab]][[File:Ox running competition in a village in Pakistan.jpg|left|thumb|Bull cart races feature in Besakhi fairs]]Baisakhi is also called Vaisakhi and Besakhi. It is a harvest festival celebrated when the rabi crop is ready for harvesting. The harvesting is started with folk music and dancing such as bhangra<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EWx_NiC9ANQC&q=baisakhi+%257D |title=Statistical Pocket-book of Pakistan |date=2012 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref> which is performed with zeal at rural melas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abbas |first=Huma Jalil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C_5tAAAAMAAJ&q=bhangra |title=Pakistan the Land and Its Culture |date=2006 |publisher=Pakistan National Council of the Arts |isbn=978-969-450-052-2 |language=en}}</ref> According to Abbasi (1992), bhangra is primarily associated with the Bisakhi festival to inaugurate the reaping operations of wheat crops in the central Punjab.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abbasi |first=Muhammad Yusuf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QxhuAAAAMAAJ&q=bisakhi+bhangra |title=Pakistani Culture: A Profile |date=1992 |publisher=National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research |isbn=978-969-415-023-9 |language=en}}</ref> Colourful festivals are held at the time of Besakhi when farmers are free to enjoy their leisure time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kalim |first=M. Siddiq |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DsRjAAAAMAAJ&q=attract |title=As Memories Come |date=2006 |publisher=Ferozsons |isbn=978-969-0-02006-2 |language=en}}</ref> Various literary festivals, animal races and fairs are organised in [[Lahore]],<ref>{{cite web |date=8 April 2016 |title=Punjabi Parchar spreads colours of love at Visakhi Mela |url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/04/08/promoting-peace-with-punjabi-at-visakhi-mela/ |website=Pakistan Today}}</ref> [[Eminabad]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2009 |title=A fair dedicated to animal lovers |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/953015/a-fair-dedicated-to-animal-lovers |website=Dawn}}</ref> and [[Faisalabad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Vaisakhi mela 2014 – Faisalabad Arts Council |url=http://faisalabadartscouncil.gov.pk/fac/vaisakhi-mela-2014/}}</ref> The annual Lok Mela organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage in [[Islamabad]] celebrated the Vaisakhi Festival at the open-air theatre in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2017 |title=Annual Lok Mela comes to an end |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1386616/annual-lok-mela-comes-end |website=The Express Tribune}}</ref>

The camel and cattle trading at the Besakhi mela in [[Dera Ghazi Khan]] surpasses the much propagated camel fair of Pushkar in [[Rajasthan]] (India).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ziegler |first=Agnes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhNuAAAAMAAJ&q=besakhi+mela+sakhi |title=The Final Frontier: Unique Photographs of Pakistan |last2=Mummunka |first2=Akhtar |date=2006 |publisher=San-e-Meel Publications |isbn=978-969-35-1773-6 |language=en}}</ref>
|--
||[[Basant (festival)|Basant]] || [[Phaggan]] ([[Punjabi calendar]]) || [[Basant (festival)|Basant]] is a seasonal festival and is celebrated by wearing yellow, eating food with yellow colouring such as potatoes with turmeric and saffron rice, and holding parties.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mumtaz |first=Khawar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NrnRZQGklwMC&dq=basant+pakistan+wearing+yellow&pg=PA19 |title=Pakistan: Tradition and Change |last2=Mitha |first2=Yameema |last3=Tahira |first3=Bilquis |date=2003 |publisher=Oxfam |isbn=978-0-85598-496-0 |language=en}}</ref> In the villages, the festival involves holding fairs, distributing sweets and decorating horses and cattle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Abbas |first=Huma Jalil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C_5tAAAAMAAJ&q=distributed |title=Pakistan the Land and Its Culture |date=2006 |publisher=Pakistan National Council of the Arts |isbn=978-969-450-052-2 |language=en}}</ref> Another feature of Basant is flying kites.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite book |last=Dogra |first=Ramesh C. |title=The Sikh world: an encyclopaedic survey of Sikh religion and culture |last2=Dogra |first2=Urmila |date=2006 |publisher=UBS Publishers' Distributors |isbn=978-81-7476-443-0 |edition=1. repr |location=New Delhi}}</ref> However, there is a ban on kite flying around the festival period in [[Pakistan]] imposed due to kite strings ensnaring and injuring moped and motorcycle drivers when they caught on ground-level objects.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-02 |title=Basant to be celebrated in Lahore after security clearance: Minister |url=https://dnd.com.pk/basant-to-be-celebrated-in-lahore-after-security-clearance-minister/123321/ |access-date=2025-10-29 |website=Dispatch news Desk |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-07 |title=Punjab govt says 'NO' to Basant festival |url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/02/07/punjab-govt-says-no-to-basant-festival/ |website=PT}}</ref>
|--
|}

==See also==
* [[Punjabi festivals]]
* [[Punjabi culture]]
* [[Punjabi Culture Day]]
* [[Punjabi calendar]]
* [[Festivals in Lahore]]
* [[Festivals in Multan]]
* [[Lohri]]
* [[Vaisakhi]]
* [[List of Sikh festivals|Sikh festivals]]
* [[List of fairs and festivals in Punjab, India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

[[Category:Punjabi festivals| ]]
[[Category:Festivals in Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Culture of Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Punjabi culture]]

Punjabi festivals (Pakistan) - Revision history

BrittnyFiorillo at 19:39, 19 January 2026