Culture & Heritage

Religious Festivals

Although religion is part of every festival and events however there are some events that are performed due to religious affiliations.

Eidhen

Islam celebrates two eids, or feasts. They are Eid al-Adha, “feast of the sacrifice,” and Eid al-Fitr, “feast of breaking the fast.”

 1. Eid Al Fitr

Eid al-Fitr, or the feast of breaking the fast, begins on the first day of the lunar month of Shawwal, and marks the end of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. The day includes special midmorning prayers at a common place in the village. The community commonly comes together in a public place or Jamat Khana to perform these special devotions, followed by a sermon. Traditionally, people prepare and wear new clothes to the Eid celebration and give gifts to children and visit their relatives with specially prepared foods. gifts

People visit their relatives and also arrange different programmes.

2. Eid Al Adha

Eid al-Adha, or the feast of the sacrifice, is observed in much the same way as Eid al-Fitr. The festival, which begins on day 10 of the lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah, commemorates the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, after God ordered him to do so, as well as God’s mercy in sparing Ishmael and replacing him on the altar with a sacrificial lamb. Muslims believe Abraham’s act took place at Mina, near Mecca.
Some mark the day by slaughtering their own animals, generally a sheep or goat. Special midmorning prayers are also held in congregation, followed by other celebrations.

 Along side with above events the Ismaili community also celebrates below events with great joy.

 Thakhth Nashini Salgirah

The Ismailies all around the world celebrate the 11^th July as the 49^th Imam Shah Karim Al-Hussaini (Aga Khan IV) took over the role of the Imam (spritual leader) of the Ismailies from His grandfather Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah (Aga Khan III). To mark this day celebrations are held on 11^th July. During the month of July the weather in the valley remains highly pleasant thus the villagers working in different cities and the students studying in different cities also attend this event. Different religious as well as festive programmes are arranged. Special thamasha and different dramas, cultural programmes and games are arranged in a common place in the village.

Salgirah of First visit of Aga Khan IV to Hunza

The 49^th Imam (spiritual leader) of Ismaili Muslim was the first Imam, who visited the Ismaili community of Hunza on October 23, 2006. Since 1960, October 23 is celebrated as Salgirah in Hunza. On this day different festive as well as religious programmers are arranged. 

Birth Day Salgirah of Aga Khan

The Ismailies of Hunza like Ismailies all over the world celebrate the birth day of their 49th Imam (spiritual leader) on December 11 every year with great joy. During this event different religious as well as festive programmes are arranged. However, due to severe cold in the valley during this month open festive programmes are not arranged.

Novroze Mubarak

In Gojal this event is celebrated on 21st March with great religious zeal however, it is said that this event was celebrated in central Hunza before the arrival of Islam in Hunza. The word Noveroze comes from the Old Persian: nava=new + rəzaŋh=day/daylight, meaning "new day/daylight", and still has the same meaning in the modern Persian. Novroze has been celebrated for at least 3000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian religion. Today, the festival of Novroz is celebrated in many countries that were territories of, or influenced by, the Persian Empire: Persia (Iran), Iraq, Afghanistan, parts of the middle-east, as well as in the former soviet republics of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan,Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is also celebrated by the Zoroastrian Parsis and Iranis in India, and in Turkey, where it is called Nevruz in Turkish and Newroz in Kurdish.

Norouz marks first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year as well as the beginning of the Bahá'í year.  It is celebrated by some communities on March 21st and by others on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (start of spring), which may occur on March 20th, 21st or 22nd.

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