by Muhammad Fahd Waseem

Created on: September 22, 2009

Pakistan is a country of diverse societies and cultures. The four provinces of Pakistan constitute a mind-bogglingly unique set of people, which are even further sub divided into ethnicities and groups so variegated; it defies logic that we are all united under the single banner of Pakistan.

As such, it would be improper to name a few festivals and claims that these are the main festivals celebrated in Pakistan. Nevertheless, there is indeed a common set of major festivals that pertain either to Pakistan itself, or the common religion, Islam, that nearly all Pakistanis celebrate. It would, then, be logical to restrain ourselves to these.

Eid ul Fitr. It is celebrated to mark the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan, the month during which Muslims hold regular dawn to dusk fasts. Eid ul Fitr is actually the first day of Shawal (the month following Ramadan), and given that the Hijri calendar is lunar, Eid ul Fitr starts off with sighting of the new moon. It is a joyous occasion, with spending the night in revelry. People prepare for this day weeks in advance, getting new clothes, and the women getting their hands hennaed. Early morning, people go for special prayers. Sweets are served. People entertain guests, and there are 'Eid Milan' parties. Basically, people have a good time to mark the end of the fasts.

Eid ul Azha. It is a religious festival that marks a special segment of the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Hajj. Prophet Abraham was ordered by Allah to sacrifice his son. The Prophet obeyed, at which point the son was miraculously replaced under the knife by a sheep. This rite is inculcated into the Hajj: Muslims sacrifice an animal in the name of Allah this day. All Muslims not performing the Hajj must still replicate this rite if they have the means to do so. It takes the form of a festival, in which Pakistanis also take part. Animals are often procured in advance. They are sacrificed early in the morning, and the meat distributed equally amongst the poor, friends, relatives and selves.

Independence Day. Easily the most extravagant festival held commonly by Pakistanis, it is held on the 14th of August each year, marking the day Pakistan was separated from the British and Indian chains. Masses pour out onto the streets, flags are waved everywhere, important buildings are illuminated, patriotic songs and music is blared out and all joy breaks loose.

Pakistanis also celebrate the 23rd of March (Pakistan day, the day on which the decision to carve out Pakistan from British India was taken by Muslim leaders), 6th September (Army day, the day the Pakistan Army forced a draw in the 1965 war against India) and Shab-e-Barat (a day on which Allah makes plans for the coming year |This is more cultural than religious, as it has no grounds in Muslim scripture|), but none reach the pitch and fervor of the afore mentioned festivals.

It is impossible to do justice to the festivals celebrated in Pakistan by mere words, and the colour and light they encompass. To really know, one must see Pakistan during one of these festivals. It is a Pakistan transformed.

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