Chehlum processions in Pakistan take place on 20 Safar, forty days after Ashura, to mark the end of the mourning period for Imam Husayn and the martyrs of Karbala. In 2026 Chehlum fell on Tuesday 4 August. For 2027 calendars give 24 or 25 July, depending on the moon. In Lahore the main procession leaves Haveli Alif Shah inside Delhi Gate, crosses the Walled City and ends at Karbala Gamay Shah, outside Bhati Gate, around sunset.
This guide explains what the day is, where the main processions go, and what it does to roads, phones and plans. It is written for people who need to travel around it or want to watch respectfully. The processions are an act of mourning, not a spectacle.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 Safar, forty days after Ashura |
| 2026 | Tuesday 4 August |
| 2027 | About 24 or 25 July, subject to moon sighting |
| Holiday | Optional federal holiday; Sindh closed schools and colleges in 2026 |
| Lahore route | Haveli Alif Shah (Delhi Gate) to Karbala Gamay Shah (outside Bhati Gate) |
| Karachi route | Nishtar Park to Hussainia Iranian Imambargah, Kharadar |
| Rawalpindi route | Imambargah Ashiq Hussain, Teli Mohalla, through Raja Bazaar |
| Expect | Road closures, containers on routes, local mobile suspensions |
What is Chehlum?
Chehlum (Arba'een in Arabic) means "the fortieth". It falls on 20 Safar, forty days after Ashura, when Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed at Karbala in 680 CE. Forty days is the traditional length of mourning for a death in many Muslim families, and Chehlum closes the mourning period that began in Muharram.
Shia tradition holds that on this day Husayn's family, released from captivity in Damascus, returned to Karbala, where the Prophet's companion Jabir ibn Abd Allah came to visit the grave. In Iraq, Arba'een is now one of the largest gatherings in the world, as millions walk to Husayn's shrine in Karbala, and many Pakistanis travel there for it.
In Pakistan the day is marked with majalis (gatherings of mourning), processions carrying alams (standards), taboot (coffin replicas) and a Zuljinah (the horse that represents Husayn's), matam (ritual chest-beating) and nazr-o-niaz, food and drink given away along the routes. It is observed most visibly by Shia communities.
When is Chehlum in 2026 and 2027?
Safar is the second month of the Islamic lunar calendar, so Chehlum moves about ten or eleven days earlier each year, and its exact date depends on when the moon is sighted at the start of Safar.
- 2026: Tuesday 4 August (20 Safar 1448).
- 2027: About Saturday 24 July or Sunday 25 July (20 Safar 1449).
Once Safar begins, you will know the date about three weeks ahead. Chehlum is an optional holiday in the federal list, not a full public holiday, so most offices and many shops stay open outside the procession areas. Provinces can add their own closures: in 2026 the Sindh government closed all public and private schools and colleges on 4 August. Our note on public holidays and travel explains how moon-sighting affects other holidays.
The Lahore route: Delhi Gate to Karbala Gamay Shah
Lahore's main Chehlum procession starts at Haveli Alif Shah, inside Delhi Gate, in the morning. It follows its traditional route through the Walled City. In 2026 that took it past Wazir Khan Mosque, where mourners offered the midday prayers, then through Chowk Mufti Baqar, Rang Mahal, Mochi Gate, Pani Wala Talab and Bhati Gate (Aaj, The Nation). It finishes at Karbala Gamay Shah, the oldest well-known imambargah in the city, outside Bhati Gate and south of Data Darbar, around Maghrib.
That is a full day in the narrowest part of Lahore. The procession moves slowly, stopping for majalis and matam, and the lanes around it are closed with containers and barriers. In 2026 police covered 17 processions and 44 majalis across the city.
Practical points for Lahore:
- The Walled City is effectively closed to sightseeing on Chehlum. If you planned Wazir Khan Mosque or the Delhi Gate food streets, move them to another day.
- Roads around Bhati Gate and Data Darbar are slow or blocked near the end point in the afternoon and evening.
- Expect police checks at every entry point. In 2026 more than 10,000 police were deployed in Lahore, with snipers on rooftops along the route.
Our guides to the Walled City of Lahore and the 13 gates of Lahore help you work out which gate you are near and which roads to avoid.
Other main processions
Chehlum processions are held across the country. The main ones in 2026 were:
- Karachi: The central procession left Nishtar Park at 9am and followed M.A. Jinnah Road to the Hussainia Iranian Imambargah in Kharadar. M.A. Jinnah Road was closed, with traffic sent along Kashmir Road and Peoples Chowrangi. Police deployed about 5,000 officers.
- Rawalpindi: The central procession left Imambargah Ashiq Hussain in Teli Mohalla and passed along Jamia Masjid Road, Fawara Chowk, Raja Bazaar and Qila Chowk. Raja Bazaar and the old city are blocked for most of the day.
- Islamabad: The central procession ended at Imambargah Asna Ashari in G-6.
- Peshawar and Quetta: Processions were held in Peshawar from Hussainia Hall in Saddar and in Quetta, where mobile and internet services were suspended in parts of the city.
The routes are the same each year, but timings and closures are announced only a day or two ahead by each city's police and traffic police.
Travel disruption: roads, phones and transport
For most travellers, Chehlum is a day to plan around rather than a day off.
- Road closures. Main routes are blocked with containers from early morning until the processions end in the evening, and ride-hailing pickups near them are difficult.
- Mobile and internet suspensions. These are ordered locally, usually along the routes. In 2024 services were suspended in parts of Karachi, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and other cities; in 2026 they were reported in Quetta. Download maps and tell family where you will be.
- Pillion riding bans. Common in Sindh; in 2026 they applied in Hyderabad, Matiari, Dadu, Thatta and other districts.
- Section 144. Imposed in some districts; in 2026 it applied in Hyderabad.
- Intercity travel. Check with your bus company or Pakistan Railways, and allow extra time to reach terminals near the old city centres, or travel the day before.
If you are just passing through Lahore, Karachi or Rawalpindi on Chehlum, stay on the ring roads and motorways and keep away from the old city centres until evening. Our guide to travelling during Muharram covers hotels, buses and shops in more detail.
How to behave if you are watching
Most people see Chehlum only from the edge of a route, or from a rooftop that belongs to someone they know. These habits keep it respectful:
- Dress modestly and in dark colours. Women should carry a dupatta or scarf.
- Don't play music, eat in front of mourners or take selfies with the procession behind you.
- Ask before photographing anyone, and never film close up during matam.
- Accept water or food from a sabeel politely if offered; it is given as charity.
- Don't cross in front of the procession or climb on its barriers, and follow police instructions at checkpoints. Women are screened by female police officers.
Is it safe?
The processions are held under very heavy security, and in 2026 they ended peacefully across Pakistan with no incident reported (The Nation). Sectarian attacks on Muharram and Chehlum gatherings have happened in Pakistan in the past, so the sensible course is to watch from a distance, leave before the densest stretch, and check local news on the day.
Some Chehlum processions take place in cities where the UK government advises against all travel, including Peshawar and all of Balochistan. Overseas visitors should check their own government's advice, which may also cover large gatherings and can affect travel insurance.
Should you plan around it?
If you are a visitor with a fixed itinerary, yes: treat Chehlum as a quiet day. Use it for a drive out of the city or a museum in the newer part of town, and see the Walled City the day after. If you have Shia friends or a host who invites you to a majlis or a rooftop, going with them is the respectful way to see the day. For other cultural events that are easier to attend, see our experiences page, and for the bigger day of the mourning period, our guide to Ashura processions in Lahore and Karachi.
Frequently asked questions
When is Chehlum in 2027?
It is expected on about 24 or 25 July 2027, which is 20 Safar 1449. The exact day depends on moon sighting at the start of Safar.
Where does the Lahore Chehlum procession start and end?
It starts at Haveli Alif Shah inside Delhi Gate and ends at Karbala Gamay Shah, outside Bhati Gate, around sunset.
Is Chehlum a public holiday in Pakistan?
It is an optional holiday on the federal list, not a full public holiday. Provinces may close schools; Sindh closed schools and colleges on Chehlum in 2026.
Is mobile service suspended on Chehlum?
In some places, yes. Suspensions are ordered locally, usually along procession routes, and in 2026 they were reported in parts of Quetta.
What is the difference between Ashura and Chehlum?
Ashura, on 10 Muharram, is the anniversary of Husayn's death at Karbala. Chehlum, on 20 Safar, is the fortieth day after it and closes the mourning period.
