Northern Pakistan's festival calendar runs from the Nowruz new year celebrations in March through spring blossom festivals, the Kalash valley's Chilam Joshi in May, Shandur's polo festival in summer, and the Kalash harvest festival of Uchal in August. Most are tied to the agricultural year or to specific communities, which is why they fall in roughly the same weeks each year even though a few, particularly the Kalash festivals, move slightly with a traditional calendar kept by local elders.
This is a planning calendar rather than a cultural deep-dive: what each festival is, roughly when it happens, and what a visitor should know before turning up.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Nowruz / Navroz | 21 March, Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Jashn-e-Baharan | April, spring festival, notably in Hunza |
| Chilam Joshi | Mid-May, Kalash valleys, Chitral |
| Shandur Polo Festival | Usually June or July, Shandur Pass |
| Uchal | Late August, Kalash valleys, Chitral |
| Chaumos | December, Kalash valleys, Chitral |
Nowruz (Navroz), 21 March
Nowruz marks the Persian new year and the start of spring, and it is celebrated with particular enthusiasm by the Ismaili and Shia communities of Gilgit-Baltistan, in Gilgit, Hunza-Nagar, Ghizer, Astore and Skardu. It falls on or around the spring equinox, 21 March, and involves home decoration with fresh flowers, traditional dishes, and in Hunza and Nagar, girls' swinging competitions as part of the local custom. It's a community and family occasion rather than a staged public spectacle, so a visitor is more likely to see its effects, decorated homes, a festive mood, than a single central event to attend.
Jashn-e-Baharan, April
Jashn-e-Baharan, the "celebration of spring", is marked across several parts of Pakistan including Gilgit-Baltistan, and is particularly associated with Hunza, where it overlaps with the valley's almond and apricot blossom. Expect flower displays, traditional dance and music, and local sports including archery and polo. It doesn't fall on one fixed date, and timing varies by area, so if this festival is a reason for your trip, check locally closer to the time rather than booking around an assumed date.
Chilam Joshi, mid-May
Chilam Joshi is the Kalash people's spring festival, celebrated in the three main Kalash valleys of Chitral, Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir, and marks the start of spring with prayers for the coming livestock and harvest season. In 2026 it fell in the second half of May; the exact dates shift a little each year according to a traditional calendar kept by Kalash elders, so treat any date you read, including here, as approximate until confirmed closer to the time.
Is it safe? The Kalash valleys and the N45 road from Mardan to Chitral, including access to the valleys, currently carry a UK government advisory against all travel (updated September 2026). Pakistani visitors travel to the Kalash valleys regularly, including for these festivals; check current local advice and police guidance before setting out, and know that if you're visiting from abroad, your own government's advice against travel can also affect your travel insurance.
Shandur Polo Festival, June or July
Held at Shandur Pass, one of the highest polo grounds in the world at around 3,700 metres, this festival brings together teams from Chitral and Gilgit for a fiercely contested, historic rivalry, alongside camping, folk music and a large temporary gathering on the plateau. Dates have moved in recent years, in 2026 the festival was scheduled for June rather than its more traditional early-July slot, so check the current year's confirmed dates rather than assuming it always falls in July. Getting there means using the Shandur Pass road from either Chitral or Gilgit, which is only open in the warmer months; see our guide to when Pakistan's mountain passes open for the seasonal picture.
Uchal, late August
Uchal is the Kalash harvest festival, celebrated in Rumbur and Bumburet over several days in late August to give thanks for the wheat and corn harvest, with special foods including corn, buttermilk and local cheese. It is a quieter, more community-focused event than Chilam Joshi, and the same access and current-advisory notes above apply, since it is held in the same valleys.
Chaumos, December
Chaumos is the Kalash winter solstice festival, marking the end of the agricultural year with fire rituals, music and dance over roughly two weeks around the solstice. It is the most significant festival in the Kalash calendar but also the hardest to reach, since it falls deep in winter when snow and cold make the valleys far less accessible, and it is generally not recommended for casual visitors without local arrangements already in place.
Planning a trip around a festival
- Confirm dates close to the time, especially for the Kalash festivals and Shandur, which have both shifted their traditional timing in recent years.
- Book accommodation early for Shandur in particular; the festival draws large numbers to a remote plateau with limited fixed lodging, and many visitors camp.
- Treat Kalash festivals as living community events, not staged tourist shows: ask before photographing people, follow guidance from your driver or guide on where visitors are welcome, and keep a respectful distance from ritual activities you don't fully understand.
- Check the current security picture for the Kalash valleys and Chitral before booking, given the advisories noted above, and again in the days before you travel.
Which festival is worth planning a trip around?
Shandur, if you want spectacle, scale and a genuinely unusual event, a polo match at 3,700 metres with thousands of spectators camped around the ground. Chilam Joshi and Uchal, if you're specifically interested in Kalash culture and are travelling with a guide or operator who can navigate access and etiquette appropriately. Nowruz and Jashn-e-Baharan are lower-key and better suited to travellers who are already in Gilgit-Baltistan for other reasons and want to catch the local mood, rather than building a whole trip around them.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Shandur Polo Festival held?
Usually in June or July, though the exact dates have shifted between years, in 2026 it was scheduled for June rather than the more traditional early-July slot. Confirm the current year's dates before booking travel.
What is the Kalash Chilam Joshi festival?
It's the Kalash people's spring festival, held in the Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir valleys of Chitral, usually in mid-May, marking the start of spring with prayers for livestock and harvest.
Is it safe to visit the Kalash valleys for a festival?
Check current advice before travelling. The UK government currently advises against all travel to the N45 road to Chitral and the Kalash valleys; Pakistani visitors do travel there, but you should check local news and police guidance close to your travel dates.
When is Nowruz celebrated in Gilgit-Baltistan?
On or around 21 March, the spring equinox. It's celebrated by the Ismaili and Shia communities across Gilgit-Baltistan, particularly in Gilgit, Hunza-Nagar, Ghizer, Astore and Skardu.
Can tourists attend Kalash festivals?
Yes, visitors are generally welcome, but these are living religious and community events rather than tourist shows. Travelling with a local guide, asking before taking photographs, and following local guidance on where to stand makes for a better and more respectful visit.