Karachi: Events

An international film festival of alternative and independent cinema with contributions from many genres around the world comes to Karachi (and then travels on to Lahore and Islamabad) in January-February. The KaraFilm Festival has been running for about six years.

In January 2007 the newly established Hamara Karachi Festival was held to celebrate the 75-year anniversary of the old KMC building. The festival is intended to take place annually with nearly two weeks of cultural events, parades and music.

The Nauroz (Navrus) 'New Days' festival, an annual Persian festival held on 21 March, is an adaptation of pre-Islamic vernal equinox or renewal celebrations. The Parsi community and Shia and Ismaili Muslims in Karachi celebrate the day as do parts of Afghanistan, Iran and India.

Holy days follow the Islamic lunar calendar so dates can only be given approximately. These include Eid-Milad-un-Nabi in April or May, a celebration of the Prophet's birthday and a public holiday.

The holy month of Ramadan falls sometime between September and November. During Ramadan many eateries close during the day and it's wise to be sensitive to religious sensibilities if you are travelling. The sunrise-to-sunset fasting culminates in Eid-ul-Fitr (also called Chhoti Eid, or Small Eid). Expect two or three days of joyous celebrations at the end of Ramazan (Ramadan), with family visits, gifts, banquets, bonuses at work and donations to society's less privileged.