International Malam Jabba ski Tournamentis aski resortsituated in theHindu Kushrange of theSwat ValleyinKhyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince,Pakistanat a top elevation of 2,804 meters (9,199ft). The resort is located inMalam Jabbavillage, 40 kilometers east ofSaidu Sharifand 314 kilometers northwest ofIslamabad. It is the largest and oldest ski resort inPakistan. International ski tournament — Alpine International Cup — would be held at the picturesque Malam Jabba top in scenic Swat valley in the last week of January.
International Naltar ski Tournament is aski resortsituated in theKarakoramrange of theNaltar ValleyinGilgit-Baltistanprovince,Pakistanat a top elevation of 2,950 meters (9,680ft). The resort is located, 40 kilometers northwest ofGilgit. It also serves as the main facility for theSki Federation of Pakistanand the Pakistan National Ski Championship.[3]It also hosted the 2016 Karakoram Alpine Ski Cup.
Spring Blossom Festival: (March 21st – April 21st) the objective of the festival is to attract national and international tourist during spring blossom season in GB which also contributes to link cultural resources with economic activities tremendously. The Buddhist from Japan, Korea etc visit GB to witness the spring blossom, showing their religious affection.
Jashan-e-Nowruz: (March 21st – 23rd) this festival is like Nowruz of Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. In Northern Pakistan (Chitral, Gilgit, and Baltistan) Nowruz is celebrated as a socio-religious festival. It is also celebrated with much fervor in Baluchistan and in almost all of Pakistan’s major urban centers. The day coincides with the Spring Equinox on March 21, but the celebration continues for weeks. In Baltistan, the main features of Nowruz are the giving of colored eggs to friends and polo matches. In Balochistan, the festival is marked with outdoor feasts, and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash away sins and usher in a fresh start. The origins of this festival are pre-Islamic and date back to when Pakistan was part of the Achaemenes and Sassanid Persian empires.
International Silk Route Festival: Festival on the Roof of the world where natural environs, landscape, privileged location in the highest mountains of the world, breathtaking spectacles of sheer scenic beauty, wildlife and nature, awe-inspiring snow peaks, glittering glaciers, serene valleys of lush green foliage and fruits, gleaming and scintillating streams of unpolluted water, rich diversity of people, culture, folklore, arts, crafts and heritage are unexplored discovery that awaits you.
Polo Festival at world’s second highest Polo Ground: This is worth visiting event playing every year by Polo teams of Gilgit-Baltistan. There is a naturally made highest polo ground in Babusar with lush green grassy plain for camping offers a great opportunity for tourists during the summer season. Babusar Polo Cup Festival is held in August of each year. Where Polo teams of Gilgit-Baltistan compete each other and thousands of tourists enjoy this traditional festival. This Polo festival is organized by Tourism Department Gilgit-Baltistan to presser this traditional sport and to attract the tourists towards the area.
Joshi or Chilimjusht: (14-15 May) Kalash festival of welcoming spring, held in Kalash Valleys near Chitral. Folk dances, music, and exchange of dishes.
Utchal: (15-16 July) A harvest festival, celebrated by Kalash people in Kalash Valleys, Chitral.
Chowmas: (18-21 October) Held in Kalash Valleys near Chitral. Welcoming of winter with first snow-fall. Activities restrict to indoor.
Lok Virsa…Folk Festival: The largest cultural activity in Pakistan is the annual National Folk Festival (Lok Mela), held in October each year. Over the past two decades, this festival has taken on an international flavor and more than 20 different countries have sent their artisans and performers to participate in the festival. Nationally, the festival has become a thing of pride for artisans and performers, who come on their own to participate. Most important of all, the Provinces of Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir put up beautifully decorated pavilions and visitors have the unique opportunity to see an assortment of Pakistan’s traditionally rich culture in the federal capital of Islamabad for an exciting ten days. An exhibition of artisans at work under the banner of the Heritage Museum forms the core of this festival. The Research & Media Centre of Lok Virsa arranges groups of dancers that perform all over the festival grounds, inviting visitors to join in, and in the evening, arranges music concerts from all parts of Pakistan. Documentation of the festival is carried out by Lok Virsa’s researchers, who interview all the artisans and artists.
National Horse and Cattle show: One of the most famous annual festivals. the National Horse and Cattle Show are also held in Spring in the Fortress Stadium Lahore. During the week-long activities, there is a display of the finest livestock, horse and camel dances, tent pegging colorful folk dances from all regions of Pakistan, mass-band displays and tattoo shows in the evening.
Mela Chiraghan: The Festival of Lamps or Mela Chiraghan is a very important and popular event. This is celebrated every Spring on the last Friday of March outside the Shalimar Gardens. During the Festival, people from all walks of life gather from all over the province to actively participate in the Festival.The show has been described as an eloquent expression of Pakistan’s heritage and an authentic account of its agricultural and industrial achievement’s. It is held in Lahore Fortress stadium at the end of February or at the First week of March.
Eid-ul-Fitr: This is the biggest Muslim festival celebrated all over Pakistan. It is celebrated after one month of fasting during the month of Ramadan. Celebrated on the 1st of Shawwal, the 10th month of Islamic Calendar, The Eid day starts with the special Eid prayers. People exchange gifts and sweet with each other and alms to the poor and the needy.
Eid-ul-Azha: This is also another massive religious festival commemorating the great sacrifice offered by Prophet Ibrahim. It is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhaj, the 12th month in the Islamic Calendar. Collective prayers are offered after sunset and the sacrifice of goats, sheep, cows or camels is made and the meat is distributed among relatives, friends and poor.
23rd March- Pakistan Day: Pakistan Day commemorates the anniversary of Pakistan’s Resolution, passed on March 23, 1940. The military parade is held at Lahore Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi. Its main feature, however, remains the grand parade at Islamabad.
Independence Day: The National day of Pakistan is the Independence Day, celebrated every year on the 14th of August. The day is celebrated with various processions, rallies, decorations, and lightings, debating contests and 14 August illustrations all over the country.
Birthday of Allama Iqbal 9th November is celebrated as the birthday of the National Poet of Pakistan Dr. M. Allama Iqbal. The event is celebrated with a lot of debating and poetry contests held at different institutes all over Pakistan.
Christmas and Birthday of Quaid-e-Azam: Celebrated on the same date of the year the Christmas and the birthday of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam are two famous events in Pakistan, celebrated by the Christian minority and the whole nation.
Basant: Basant is the Festival of Kites. Celebrated basically in Lahore, Basant is now renowned all over Pakistan with Lahore as the center. Basant is the time when skies are filled with kites of all colors.
Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak (Jayanti): On this day Guru Nanak was born in Nanakana Sahib, now situated in Pakistan. Every year Sikhs celebrate this day with large-scale gatherings. Candles, divas, and lights are lit inGurdwaras, in the honor of Guru along with fireworks. The birthday celebration usually lasts three days. Generally two days before the birthday,Akhand Path(forty-eight-hour non-stop reading of Guru Granth Sahib) is held in the Gurdwara. One day before the birthday, a procession is organized which is led by the Panj Pyares (Five Beloved Ones) and the Palki (Palanquin) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and followed by teams ofRagissinging hymns, brass bands playing different tunes and devotees singing the chorus.
