by Paul Lines

Created on: September 26, 2009

Like many other nations the Pakistan year is filled with festivals, where members of the community gather together, either to celebrate an important religious occasion or simply to enjoy some other national or cultural tradition.

* Religious festivals

As is to be expected with a country that has a dominant Muslim population, most of Pakistan's religious festivals is centred on special Islamic events. Perhaps the three most important in the Islamic calendar are Shab-e-Barat, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha and the birth of the Prophet Muhammed.

Shab-e-Barat is celebrated in the evening in Pakistan 15 days before the commencement of Ramadan, which occurs in the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. It is therefore considered to be one of the most important and reverent period of the Islamic year. Its religious purpose is to ask God to forgive the sins of the past year and it is therefore seen as a period of prayer and as a preparation for the coming year, which it is hoped God will provide well for.

In terms of the actual festivities surrounding this event, because it takes place at night, in Pakistan it is celebrated with amazing displays of fireworks and the adorning of the outside of homes and the streets with either candles or bright lights. It is also a time of giving and sharing, both within the family and with strangers, particularly those that are less fortunate. It is for this reason that some people in Pakistan take the opportunity to undertake charity work during this festival.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a festival that celebrates the ending of Ramadan and therefore occurs in the tenth Islamic month. In addition to being the celebration of forgiveness, fellowship and peace, Eid-ul-Fitr is also as a time for the Muslim believe to give thanks to God for helping them to sustain their fasting during the period of Ramadan that has just concluded. It is also yet another time for giving and sharing to the poor and needy as well as the family.

Commenced in the home with prayer and a small meal, the day then proceeds with the attending of religious services at a mosque or other large area where the followers embrace each other to signify peace. Following this there are festivities, which for the children include fairs and for the rest of the family entails visits to relatives and friends where together they thank God for the blessings he has bestowed upon them. In addition, often special clothing is worn on this day.

Two months later, twelfth of the Islamic calendar,

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