Pakistan Holidays - 2006

The Birth Day of Prophet Muhammad celebrated as Milad-un-Nabi or Mawlid,which occurs in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.During this occasion people decorate mosques, their houses and streets with colourful flags, lightings. Special activities including reciting of the Holy Quran, Mehfal-e-Naat and Qawalis are arranged. The women also arrange Milad Mehfils to pay tributes to Holy Prophet Muhammed.Eid Milad an-Nabi is celebrated with very high spirit across Pakistan.

The Pakistan Day is a national holiday in Pakistan to commemorate the Lahore Resolution.That was passed on March 23, 1940 in Lahore,by the Muslim League under the leadership of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.This was a demand for a separate independent state for the Muslims of South Asia.It is a public holiday therefore all the government offices including banks and educational institutions will remain closed.

Like other parts of the world,Labour Day also celebrated in Pakistan on 1 May.In Urdu this day called as Yom-e- Karegar.Various worker's organizations, associations and federations took out worker's rallies in different parts of the country,demonstrating their solidarity with the workers of the world in the struggle for their rights.

Pakistan's independence day also known as Yom-e-Istiqlal.celebrated on 14 August. Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. It is the national holiday in Pakistan. This day celebrated all over the country with flag raising ceremonies, tributes to the national heroes and fireworks taking place in the capital, Islamabad. The main celebrations takes place in Islamabad, where the President and Prime Minister raise the national flag at the Presidential and Parliament buildings and deliver speeches that are televised live.

Defense Day in Pakistan celebrated on 6th September every year.This day celebrates in the memory of people who gave sacrifices of their life for the defense of the country in Pak - India War II, 1965. This war ended on 6th September.Pakistan celebrates this day,for telling the native of Pakistan that how people were brave at the critical time and were proud of offering sacrifices of their lives for the defense of Pakistan.This day starts with special prayers for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan.

Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fitr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.It is the day when the Muslims thank Allah for having given them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe fast and obey His commandment during the holy month of Ramadan.It is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Eid-ul-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking).

Sir Muhammad Iqbal was the poet, philosopher and politician in British India.He was the first person to give out the idea of creation of Pakistan.Being a close associate of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and an active member of the All India Muslim League that later spearheaded the Pakistan Movement, Iqbal is widely regarded as a national hero in Pakistan.The birth anniversary of Muhammad Iqbal on November 9.So this day declared as national holiday and a number of educational institutions organize programmes to shed light on the life and achievements of Mr. Iqbal.

Eid al-Adha means "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is an important holiday celebrated in Pakistan, to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God.Eid al-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic calendar.

It is commemorated as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram in the year 61 AH.In Pakistan this is the national holiday.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah was a 20th century lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam.Jinnah served as leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until Pakistan's independence on August 14, 1947 and Pakistan's first Governor-General from August 15, 1947 until his death on September 11, 1948.His birthday is a national holiday in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, December 25th is a public holiday, but it is in memory of Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. On Cristmas day, Christians go to Church again for the Bara Din celebrations. People wear their best, colourful clothes. They can stay in the Church courtyard for hours, enjoying various food from the different stalls.