Pakistan is no doubt a land of wonders. There are few areas in the world where mountains rise in such awesome splendor as they do in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Four of the world’s greatest mountain ranges (Himalayas, Karakorams, Hindukush and Pamirs) are found here. Not only this, Pakistan is also home to one of the world’s oldest and greatest civilization. The remarkable Indus Valley Civilization flourished along the banks of river Indus 5000 years ago. Its excavated cities of Moenjodero and Harappa in Sind and Punjab reveal a well organized urban community with their own script, a unified system of weights and measures, and a high level of artistic activity.
Pakistan celebrates many festivals and fairs. Festivals in Pakistan are characterized by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, prayers and ritual. Foreign travelers are strike by the array of different Pakistani festivals that have evolved in the society. 
Many of the festivals and holidays featured in calendar are celebrate on religious occasions. Others are in memory of national heroes or commemorate political events in the nation’s recent history. Muslim festivals are celebrated according to Muslim (Lunar) Calendar and may occur some 10 days earlier each successive Christian Year. There are several folk festivals held regularly in every part of the country. Exact dates of such festivals are fixed annually by the District Administration of the respective area, at least 01 month in advance. Some festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains, or the full moon.
A number of these festivals are common to most parts of Pakistan. However, they may be called by different names in various parts of the country or may be celebrated in a different fashion.
Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Christians in Pakistan also celebrate their own festivals and holidays. Sikhs come from across the world to visit several holy sites in Punjab, including the shrine of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at Hassan Abdal in the Attock District, and his birthplace, at Nankana Sahib. There are also several regional and local festivals, such as the Punjabi festival of Basant, which marks the start of spring and is celebrated by kite flying.
Several important festivals are celebrated by Pakistani Muslims during the year, dependent on the Islamic calendar. Ramadan, the ninth month of the calendar, is characterised by daytime fasting for 29 or 30 days and is followed by the festival of Eid ul-Fitr. In a second festival, Eid ul-Adha, an animal is sacrificed in remembrance of the actions of Prophet Abraham (Arabic: Ibrahim) and the meat is shared with friends, family, and the less fortunate. Both Eid festivals are public holidays, serving as opportunities for people to visit family and friends, and for children to receive new clothes, presents, and sweets. Muslims celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the prophet Muhammad, in the third month of the calendar (Rabi' al-Awwal (holiday)). Muslims mark the Day of Ashurah on the 9th and 10th days of the first month (Muharram (holiday)) to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn bin Ali, (the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad).
The geographical area comprising Pakistan has been the cradle of some of the most ancient and greatest civilizations the world has seen, giving it a very rich and diverse cultural heritage which manifests itself in hundreds of festivals held all over the country, every year. The festivals are held not only in the cities and towns but also in remote villages at different times of the year. 
These festivals and fairs include animal markets, horse and camel races, Camel wrestling, folk dance and music shows, handicraft stalls besides various other activities reflecting the local culture and customs.
As these fairs are held at different times of the year all over the country, a visit to one of these can easily be included in your tour program. Following are some of the interesting festivals held in Pakistan.
- Sibi Mela
- Silk Route Festival
- Horse and Cattle Show
- Folk Heritage Festival
- Shandur Polo Festival
- Basant - Kite Flying Festival
- Mela Chiraghan
- Lok Virsa - Folk Festival
- Pakistani Weddings
A number of these festivals are common to most parts of Pakistan. However, they may be called by different names in various parts of the country or may be celebrated in a different fashion.
Punjab
The culture of Punjab derives its basis from the institution of sufi saints. The sufi saints spread Islam and preached and lived the Muslim way of life. People have the funs and festivities to commemorate these traditions. The fairs and festivals of Punjab reflect the entire gamut of its folk life and cultural traditions. These mainly fall in three categories consisting of (i) religious & seasonal fairs/festivals, (ii) devotional fairs or Urs and (iii) industrial and commercial fairs.
Religious fairs are held on special days of Islamic significance like Muharram, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Eid-ul-Fithr, Eid-ul-Azha and Shab-e-Brat. The main activities on these special occasions are confined to congregational prayers and rituals. Melas are also held to mark these occasions.
The fairs held at the shrines of Sufi saints are called Urs. They generally mark the death anniversary of the saint. On these occasions devotees assemble in large numbers and pay homage to the memory of the saint. Soul inspiring music is played and devotees dance in ecstasy. The music on these occasions is essentially folk and appealing. It forms a part of the folk music through mystic messages. The most important Urs are: Urs of Data Ganj Bukhsh at Lahore, Urs of Hazrat Mian Mir at Lahore, Urs of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar at Pakpattan, Urs of Hazrat Bahaudin Zakria at Multan, Urs of Sakhi Sarwar Sultan at Dera Ghazi Khan, Urs of Shah Hussain at Lahore, Urs of Hazrat Bullehe Shah at Kasur and Urs of Hazrat Imam Bari (Bari Shah Latif) at Rawalpindi-Islamabad.
A big fair is organized at Jandiala Sher Khan in district Sheikhupura on the Mausoleum of Syed Waris Shah who is the most loved Sufi poet of Punjab due to his work known as Heer Ranjha.
Exhibitions and Annual Horse Shows in all Districts and National Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore are held with the official patronage. National Horse and Cattle Show at Lahore is the biggest festival where sports, exhibitions, and livestock competitions are held. It not only encourages and patronizes agricultural products and livestock through the exhibitions of agricultural products and cattle but is also a colorful documentary on the rich cultural heritage of the Province with its strong rural roots.
Sindh
The people of Sindh whole - heartedly celebrate the fairs and festivals at shrines, melas (fairs) and malakharas (wrestling festivals) are the most popular recreation. Malh is the distinctive style of Sindhi wrestling, and the training of horses and camels to run in different styles is a typical of Sindhi riding and sport. Falconry is a time honoured pastime. The method of catching the pall fish in the Indus by floating on an earthen pot is the distinctive technique of Sindhi fishermen. Bullock - cart racing and cockfighting are popular in some areas.
Sindhi people are also fond of listening to music and epic poems and enjoy taking part in folk dances. Muslims and Hindus celebrate their festivals with great gusto. The festival can be classified as seasonal festivals, religious festivals and cultural festivals. Every new season is celebrated. For instance, the monsoon season, the coming of rain is celebrated with songs throughout Sindh in general and by the people of Thar desert in particular.
Baluchi
Fairs are held on the Muslim festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, when general rejoicing takes place. Shrines are common and are constantly visited. The best known places of pilgrimage are Hinglaj and Shah Bilawal in Lasbela and Pir Lakha Lahrani in Kachi.
Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Christians in Pakistan also celebrate their own festivals and holidays. Sikhs come from across the world to visit several holy sites in Punjab, including the shrine of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at Hassan Abdal in the Attock District, and his birthplace, at Nankana Sahib. There are also several regional and local festivals, such as the Punjabi festival of Basant, which marks the start of spring and is celebrated by kite flying.
