Students Get Holiday for Shab-e-Barat

KARACHI: In observance of Shab-e-Barat, the Sindh Education Department has declared a public holiday on Wednesday, February 4. According to a notification released by the department, all educational institutions across the province, including both government and private schools, will remain closed.

Shab-e-Barat, known as the “Night of Records” or the “Night of Salvation,” is a significant occasion in the Islamic calendar, falling between the 14th and 15th of Shaban. Often viewed as a spiritual gateway to the holy month of Ramadan, it is a night where many in Pakistan stay awake to seek divine forgiveness and pray for the year ahead, creating an atmosphere of deep contemplation and hope.

During the night, mosques are filled with worshippers for special congregational prayers and vigils. A defining ritual involves visiting cemeteries, where families gather at the graves of loved ones to offer prayers and light incense, transforming graveyards into softly lit spaces of reflection. This connection between the living and the departed remains a central aspect of the Pakistani experience of Shab-e-Barat, highlighting the importance of seeking peace for the deceased.