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Festivals & Seasons
Polo at Shandur, Kalasha rites, blossom weeks, Sufi urs, and desert fairs, 51 events to plan around across Pakistan.
Don't miss
June–August
The high season in the north: polo at Shandur, the passes and trek routes open, harvest rites in Hunza and the Kalasha valleys.
At its best now:ChitralHunzaSkarduNaran & KaghanFairy MeadowsNeelum Valley
Guru Arjan Dev's Martyrdom (Jor Mela) and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Barsi
Two June gatherings beside Lahore Fort: the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev at Gurdwara Dera Sahib, and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at his samadhi.
Urs of Abdullah Shah Ghazi
Karachi's own urs, on the hill above Clifton beach, for the 8th-century saint many Karachiites believe protects the city from the sea.
National Mango & Summer Fruits Festival
Mirpurkhas celebrates Sindh's legendary mangoes, Sindhri above all, with tastings, grower displays, and Sindhi culture.
Ginani Festival
Summer solstice thanksgiving in Hunza and Nagar, wheat harvest rituals and shared meals in the orchards.
Kalam Summer Festival
Swat's high-summer festival in Kalam, cultural shows, crafts, music, and mountain adventure in the upper valley.
Broghil Festival
A remote Wakhi mountain festival in upper Chitral, yak polo, buzkashi, horse sports, and high-altitude valley life.
Urs of Baba Farid
Six days of urs at Pakpattan for Baba Farid, the first great poet of Punjabi, when the silver Gate of Paradise is opened at night.
Shandur Polo Festival
Chitral against Gilgit-Baltistan in freestyle polo on the world's highest polo ground, 3,700 metres up on the Shandur pass.
Sheedi Mela (Manghopir Festival)
The great festival of Pakistan's Sheedi community, people of East African descent, at the shrine of Pir Mangho in Karachi: drums, dhamaal, and the garlanding of the shrine's eldest crocodile.
Urs of Bahauddin Zakariya
Three days at the Multan shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, who brought the Suhrawardi order to South Asia: pilgrims, qawwali and a city holiday.
Babusar Polo Festival
Three days of freestyle polo on Babusar Pass, at 4,173 metres one of the world's highest polo grounds, held in Diamer district each August since 2007.
Uchal (Uchau)
Kalasha harvest thanksgiving, cheese, bread, and rituals marking the end of the high pasture season.
Independence Day, Jashn-e-Azadi
Pakistan's national day on 14 August, flags, fireworks, and celebration nationwide, with Lahore's Minar-e-Pakistan at the symbolic centre.
Urs of Bari Imam
Islamabad's own urs, at Nurpur Shahan below the Margalla Hills, for the 17th-century saint Bari Imam, the city's patron.