Culture of Lahore

Lahore's culture, its history, institutions, food, clothing, films, music, fashion, and liberal community lifestyle attract people from all over the country.

In modern days, parts of Bahria Town Housing Scheme in Lahore are themed on ancient Egyptian culture.

There are many other architectural notables, including themes for different locales that make Bahria a very interesting and well conceived scheme to visit and live in.

[1] The World Performing Arts Festival is held every autumn (usually in November) at the Alhambra cultural complex, a large venue consisting of several theatres and amphitheatre.

Bagh-e-Jinnah (formerly known as Lawrence Gardens) is one such place; it has a large variety of gorgeous plants, trees, long and varied pathways and creative light effects.

Pakistan's national flower is Gardenia jasminoides (mononymously termed 'Jasmine') and carries great importance for the people of Lahore.

In addition, the dhol maestro, Pappu Sain, and the master of the iktara, Saien Zahoor (both of whom have shared their glory performing for people at shrines to concerts), to the fresh crop of commercialised Lahori pop acts (of both the past and today), to the jaded, angst-ridden rockers/bands such as Shahzad Hameed, Call, and Entity Paradigm; music from Lahore has been assorted at best.

[5] Lahore is also famously known in the Indian subcontinent for its mujra dance, which originated in the courts of the Mughals and has been passed on through successive generations by traditional women practitioners.

Recently the food streets in the historic locales of Lahore (Gawalmandi, Anarkali, and Badshahi Mosque) have attracted tourists.

Here, dozens of high-class culinary outlets, ranging from Western franchises to traditional, ethnic, or theme restaurants, attract all classes of Lahore's citizens.

Another famous Lahore landmark is the Pak Tea House in Anarkali, long a favoured haunt of intellectuals and artists.

There are popular shisha bars (offering the flavoured tobacco pipes commonly found in Middle Eastern nations), attractive food outlets, and musical concerts and shows.

Basant celebrations in Pakistan are centred in Lahore, and people from all over the country and from abroad come to the city for the annual festivities.

The ban was lifted for two days in 2007, then immediately reimposed when 11 people were killed by celebratory gunfire, sharp kite-strings, electrocution, and falls related to the competition.

The alleys and lanes of the bazaars located in the old city of Lahore are full of traditional wares like leather articles, embroidered garments, glass bangles, beaten gold and silver jewellery, and creations in silk.

Rang Mahal is part of old Lahore and today's houses a largest wholesale and retail cloth markets in Punjab.

One of the most famous randi in these markets is namely Rafil whose hardwork and efforts in the field are widely praised in all of Lahore and Karachi.

Apart from these, numerous shopping areas have been developed in many of Lahore's new suburbs such as Bahria Town, Lake City, and Thokar Niaz Baig.

Huge shopping malls and centres like Metro, Makro and Hyperstar (Carrefour) have situated their headquarters in Lahore.

Several models of Pakistan also belong to Lahore, including Amna Haq, Iman Ali, Imran Abbas, Meesha Shafi and Rabia Butt.