Allama Iqbal, the Poet of East, is one of the most prominent Pakistani figures of today, commemorated twice a year. In this article, you’ll learn about Dr. Muhammad Iqbal’s Death Anniversary and a little bit about the man himself.

Let’s get started.

1. What is the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Death Anniversary?

Each year on the date of Dr. Muhammad Iqbal’s death, Muslims mourn the loss of a great poet, commemorate his influential work, and celebrate his life.

Doctor Allama Muhammad Iqbal was a prominent literary voice in the Muslim world, most well-known for his advocacy of Muslim rights and for spurring the start of the تحریک پاکستان (Tehreek e Pakistan), or “Pakistan Movement.” He has come to be known as the اعر مشرق (Shaer e mashriq), meaning “Poet of East,” as well as the national poet of Pakistan.

About Muhammad Iqbal

Muhammad Iqbal was born in Sialkot in 1877, and died in 1938 in Lahore. For Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, poetry and other literary works served as a medium for expressing his views on various pressing topics of the time, such as the state of the Muslim religion. A couple of his most popular works include The Secrets of the Self and Gabriel’s Wing. He wrote mainly in Persian, Urdu, and Arabic.

Poetry was not his only talent or interest. Muhammad Iqbal also worked as a barrister, lecturer, politician, philosopher, and academic.

→ For some literature-related vocabulary, study our list of words for Talking About Books.

Role of Allama Iqbal in Pakistan Movement

Allama Muhammad Iqbal voiced his opinion on a number of topics related to the Muslim faith, as well as politics. In particular, he’s known for bringing the Pakistan Movement to life. This movement sought to free Pakistan and the Muslim world from British rule, under which Islamic beliefs suffered and were suppressed.

Muhammad Iqbal was the first to express the “Two-Nation Theory.” This theory proposed that Muslims should be separate from the rest of the world, with their own political system. In particular, he believed that because Hindus and Muslims had separate beliefs, they shouldn’t be forced to share a political system.

While Muhammad Iqbal had very anti-capitalistic views, even Western leaders found something desirable in his writings and lectures on the topic. Today, in addition to being Pakistan’s national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal is also highly commended in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other countries with a large Muslim population.

→ Take a look at our Religion vocabulary list for some useful words on this topic.

2. When is His Death Anniversary?

Each year, Pakistanis commemorate the Death Anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal on April 21. This was the date in 1938 that he died of a throat-related illness.

→ Learn about more Important Dates During the Pakistani Calendar Year!

3. How is His Death Anniversary Observed?

To commemorate the death of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistani newspapers, radio stations, and other organizations often have special feature pieces or programs. While there aren’t many regular celebrations or observances for the Death Anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, he is considered a major figure in Pakistan and around the world. His death anniversary is simply a time to stop and commemorate his life and works, as well as the future he imagined for the Muslim people.

4. November 9

On November 9, Pakistan observes The Birthday of Muhammad Iqbal. This was a public holiday in Pakistan until 2015, when the government revoked it. However, even with the holiday’s official status revoked, many Pakistanis like to commemorate their قومی شاعر (Qoumi Shair), or “national poet,” on this day.

→ We also have a vocabulary list on Iqbal Day. Check it out!

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for this Holiday

Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s a list of the most important words and phrases for Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s Death Anniversary!

• اسلام (Islam) — “Islam”
• فارسی (Faarsi) — “Persian”
• عربی (Aarabi) — “Arabic”
• لاہور (Lahore) — “Lahore”
• مسلم لیگ (Muslim League) — “Muslim League”
• بیرسٹر (Barrister) — “Barrister”
• قومی شاعر (Qoumi Shair) — “National poet”
• تحریک پاکستان (Tehreek e Pakistan) — “Pakistan Movement”
• فلسفی (Falsafi) — “Philosopher”
• سیالکوٹ (Sialkot) — “Sialkot”
• شاعر مشرق (Shaer e mashriq) — “Poet of East”

To hear the pronunciation of each vocabulary word or phrase, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Urdu Death Anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal vocabulary list.

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about one of the most important people in modern-day Pakistan, and that you were able to take away some valuable information from this article.

Do you have a favorite poet or piece of literature? We would love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in learning more about Pakistani culture, we recommend that you check out the following pages on UrduPod101.com:

• Pop and Traditional Culture
• Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Pakistani Society
• The Ashura Holiday: Meaning & Traditions
• The Prophet’s Birthday: Eid Milad un Nabi
• All About Kashmir Day in Pakistan

Whatever your reasons for wanting to learn more about Pakistani culture or the Urdu language, know that UrduPod101.com is the best way to expand your knowledge and improve your skills. With tons of fun lessons for learners at every level, there’s something for everyone!

Create your free lifetime account today, and start learning with us.

Kashmir Unity Day, or simply Kashmir Day, is a very significant چهٹی (Chutti), or holiday, in Pakistan and other Urdu-speaking regions. On this day, people gather together in honor and encouragement of those who are caught in the Kashmir conflict.

In this article from UrduPod101.com, you’ll learn about Kashmir Day and the basics of the Pakistan-India dispute over the Kashmir territory. Further, we’ll show you some important vocabulary for Kashmir Day in Urdu-speaking countries!

Are you ready to explore this essential component of Pakistani culture? Let’s get started.

1. What is Kashmir Day?

In order to understand the significance of Kashmir Day in Pakistan, it’s important to take a look at the conflict behind it.

The Kashmir conflict is a long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan—and to some extent, China—over the Jammu and Kashmir territory. India claims that this region is a vital part of the country’s culture. Pakistan claims that the Maharaja at the time was a brutal ruler, that India violated the Standstill Agreement that was in place at the time of the Instrument of Accession, and that Kashmir wished to leave India. This conflict has led to many wars and much unrest on both sides over the years.

Kashmir Day was established to show solidarity with the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to honor the sacrifices of the مجاہد (Mujahid), or freedom fighters, throughout the Kashmir conflict. This holiday was officially observed for the first time in 2004, with a few unofficial observations starting in 1990.

2. Kashmir Day Date

Each year, Pakistani Muslims commemorate Kashmir Day on February 5.

3. How is Kashmir Day Observed?

People from different walks of society gather at important public buildings and light candles to honor the efforts of the people of Kashmir. However, with our fast-paced life today, people don’t come out in great numbers for the Kashmir Day celebration anymore. But some people do still turn out to show یکجہتی (Yakjehti), or solidarity, with Kashmiris and to pressure the Indian government to resolve the Kashmir issue as soon as possible.

In addition to the traditional gathering of people, there are often many festivities in Pakistan on this day. From Kashmir Day speeches to student debates, a common thread woven through this holiday is that of inspiring an end to the conflict.

Kashmir Day performances or parades are common, and there are many opportunities to explore Kashmir’s culture on this day.

4. A Resolution from the UN

The UN has passed a resolution that gives the people of Kashmir the right to take part in a referendum that will decide whether Kashmiris want to be with Pakistan or India. But Indian governments have not carried out the referendum, and they don’t accept the decision of the UN. The killings, political instability, and damage to women and children keep worsening with time in this part of the world.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Kashmir Day

Ready to go over some of the vocabulary words we saw in this article? Here’s some important Kashmir Day Urdu vocabulary you should know!

• بھارت (Bharat) — India
• جلوس (jaloos) — procession
• آذادی (Azadi) — freedom
• چهٹی (Chutti) — holiday
• یکجہتی (Yakjehti) — solidarity
• رائے شماری (Rai shumari) — plebiscite
• تقسیم ہند (Taqseem e hind) — partition
• مسلم (Muslim) — Muslim
• مجاہد (Mujahid) — freedom fighters
• قبضہ (Qabza) — occupy
• ظلم (Zulm) — atrocity

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Urdu Kashmir Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Kashmir Day in Pakistan is an incredibly important holiday, and one that’s very close to the hearts of people living in Kashmir, who long for آذادی (Azadi), or freedom, after a long and trying conflict.

If you would like to learn more about Pakistan’s culture, UrduPod101.com has many useful resources for you to enjoy:

• All About Pakistani Culture and Society
• The Ashura Holiday: Meaning & Traditions
• The Prophet’s Birthday: Eid Milad un Nabi
• Tourist Attractions in Pakistan
• Essential Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker

Whatever your reasons for developing an interest in Pakistani culture or wanting to learn the Urdu language, know that UrduPod101.com has all the resources you need. With tons of fun and practical lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced students, there’s something for everyone!

What are you waiting for? Create your free lifetime account today and reach your learning goals in no time.

Each year, a number of Muslims living in Pakistan and around the world celebrate the Prophet’s birthday. While not one of Islam’s two official holidays (which are Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha), Muslims usually take advantage of this holiday to show their love and devotion toward the Prophet (Peace be upon Him).

In this article, you’ll learn all about Eid Milad un Nabi (also called Eid Miladun Nabi), most especially the modern traditions and perceptions surrounding it.

At UrduPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your language-learning journey both fun and informative! Let’s get started.

1. What is Eid Milad un Nabi in Islam?

The birthday of the prophet (Peace be upon Him) is a public holiday with government approbation in most Muslim countries, including Pakistan, and countries that have a significant Muslim population. The day honors the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

But did you know that not all Muslims celebrate this holiday? We’ll go into that more later in this article.

2. Eid Milad un Nabi Date

The Birthday of Nabi (Peace be upon Him) is celebrated on the twelfth day of the third month of the Islamic calendar, which is Rabi al-Awwal. The date of Eid Milad un Nabi varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

• 2019: November 10
• 2020: October 29
• 2021: October 20
• 2022: October 9
• 2023: September 28
• 2024: September 17
• 2025: September 6
• 2026: August 27
• 2027: August 16
• 2028: August 4

3. How is the Birth of Muhammad Celebrated?

1- Common Traditions

Celebrations for Eid Milad un Nabi in Pakistan are some of the world’s largest, aimed at extolling the prophet (Peace be upon Him).

All public buildings in Pakistan fly Pakistan’s national flag, and in the capital city of Islamabad, a 31-gun salute is done at dawn. The provincial capitals perform a 21-gun salute at the same time. Many Muslims also decorate with festive lights.

Further, instead of showing secular movies on the eleventh and twelfth of the month, movie theaters show religious films.

2- The Minar e Pakistan Celebration

Minar e Pakistan in Lahore hosts the world’s largest gathering for the Birthday of Nabi at Minar-e-Pakistan on the night of the eleventh, into the twelfth. Hundreds of people attend the gathering, of which some Muslims become cheerfully fervent as they honor the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

They sing and chant hymns and praise songs, and read poems in honor of the prophet’s (Peace be upon Him) birth. Further, certain texts about the prophet’s life are typically read and recited.

3- The Eid Milad un Nabi Holiday in Other Countries

In other countries which observe the Birthday of Nabi (Peace be upon Him), the celebrations can vary widely. For example, Indonesia seems to place more importance on this holy day than on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

4. Why Don’t All Muslims Celebrate?

Do you know why not all Muslims celebrate this holiday? Read the Urdu text below to find out, and check your reading skills against the English text directly below it.

—

مذہب کو ماننے والے سبھی مسلمان میلاد النبی کے جشن کی حمایت نہیں کرتے ہیں، وہ اسے غیر مستند اور غیر معتبر مانتے ہیں کیونکہ قرآن میں اس کا کوئی ذکر نہیں ہے۔ چند اسلامی فرقے ان وجوہات کی بنا پر اپنے ممبران کو عید میلاد النبی منانے سے منع بھی کرتے ہیں۔ نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے مسلمانوں کو خبردار کیا ہے کہ مقدس کتاب میں کوئی اضافہ نہ کریں جیسا کہ دیگر مذاہب نے کیا ہے۔ تاہم، وہ لوگ جو میلاد النبی کو چھٹی کا دن نہیں مانتے وہ بھی اپنی محبت کا اظہار کرنے کے لئے نبی کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی ولادت کا جشن منانے کے بجائے آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی یاد میں کچھ وقت صرف کرتے ہیں

—

Not all espousing Muslims support the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, seeing it as apocryphal at best because it isn’t mentioned in the Quran. A handful of Islamic denominations even forbid their members to observe the Birthday of Nabi for these reasons. The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) warned Muslims not to add to the holy writings as other religions have done. However, those who don’t necessarily see the Birthday of Nabi as a holiday still spend the day focused on the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) for the purpose of demonstrating their love rather than marking his birthday.

5. Essential Vocabulary for Eid Milad un Nabi

Here’s some Urdu vocabulary for you to memorize before Eid Milad un Nabi!

• اسلام (Islam) — Islam
• سالگرہ (saalgirah) — birthday
• مسجد (masjid) — mosque
• سجاوٹ (sajaawatt) — decoration
• چهٹی (Chutti) — holiday
• نماز (Namaz) — prayer
• پیغمبر (Peghambar) — prophet
• عقیدت مند (Aqeedat mand) — devotee
• مٹھائی (Mithai) — sweets
• مذہبی واعظ (Mazhabi waaz) — religious sermon
• برکتیں (Barkatein) — blessing

You can hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, and read them alongside relevant images, by visiting our Eid Milad un Nabi vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are varying perceptions and opinions about the Eid Milad un Nabi holiday in Pakistan. Does your country have a special holiday to celebrate a prominent historical figure, religious or secular? Let us know in the comments!

Learning about a country’s culture may be one of the most fascinating and enriching aspects of trying to master its language. If you would like more cultural information on Pakistan, you may find the following pages on UrduPod101.com useful:

• All About Pakistani Culture and Society
• Pakistan Day Vocabulary
• Tourist Attractions in Pakistan
• 4 Reasons Why Urdu Slang Words Will Make You Fluent
• Essential Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native Speaker

Learning Urdu doesn’t have to be overwhelming or stuffy. At UrduPod101.com, we make every effort to make your learning experience fun, fluid, and effective!

If you’re serious about mastering the language, what are you waiting for? Create your free lifetime account today and learn Urdu like never before!

Happy Urdu learning!

Did you know that the Ashura religious holiday, one of the most significant Muslim holidays, actually holds slightly different meanings to the various Muslim groups? In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common beliefs and traditions associated with Ashura, from Ashura holiday meaning to the vocabulary for Ashura processions, from the perspective of multiple groups, so that you can get a multi-faceted glance at Pakistan culture and Muslim religions. In turn, this will make your language studies much more effective and fascinating!

At UrduPod101.com, we hope to make every aspect of your learning journey both fun and informative! So let’s get started.

1. What is the Ashura Holiday in Pakistan?

When it comes to Ashura (both the Ashura holiday in India and in Pakistan), mourning is the main focus among Muslim groups. The holiday is the culmination of the Remembrance or Mourning of Muharram and is multifaceted in nature depending on which denomination of Islam a person espouses. Different Islamic sects observe the Day of Ashura in different ways, with each having their own reasons to honor the day and their own set of events they are commemorating on the holiday.

Shiite Muslims observe the Day of Ashura as a day of mourning for Husayn ibn Al, martyred during the Battle of Karbala. A group of his closest associates and family members were exterminated with him. Since those killings, Shi’a Muslims have looked upon the Day of Ashura as a day for lamentations and sorrow.

Pakistan and some other Middle Eastern countries have made the Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali a national holiday which most religious and ethnic groups in those countries partake in.

Sunni Muslims, on the other hand, observe the Day of Ashura as a day of victory to mark the day when the Israelites were liberated from the Egyptian pharaoh.

2. When is Ashura?

Each year, Muslims celebrate Ashura on the tenth day of the Islamic month Muharram. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date on the Gregorian calendar for the next ten years.

• 2019: September 10
• 2020: August 29
• 2021: August 19
• 2022: August 8
• 2023: July 28
• 2024: July 16
• 2025: July 5
• 2026: June 25
• 2027: June 15
• 2028: June 3

3. Reading Practice: Ashura Holiday Traditions

To find out how different Muslim groups commemorate Ashura, and more about the Ashura holiday Pakistan pbserves, read the Urdu text below. You can find the English translation directly below it.

—

روایتی طور پر یوم عاشورہ کے لئے شیعہ مسلمانوں کی رسومات میں شامل ہیں خود اذیتی ، جس میں اکثر اپنے گناہوں کے لئے خود کو سزا دینا شامل ہوتا ہے کیونکہ اصل توجہ ماتم پر ہوتی ہے، اگرچہ حال ہی میں بہت سے مذہبی اہلکاروں نے ان اعمال کی مذمت کی، اور انہیں غیر اسلامی قرار دیا ہے۔

کچھ سنی مسلم یوم عاشورہ کو روزہ رکھتے ہیں اور کربلا تقریبات کو بھی مانتے ہیں اگرچہ سنیوں کے لئے تہوار کے طور یہ اصل توجہ کا مرکز نہیں ہوتی ہیں۔

شیعوں کے لئے یوم عاشورہ شاید سنیوں کے مقابلے میں کہیں زیادہ اہم ہے۔

—

Traditionally, the ritual ceremonies of Shiite Muslims for the Day of Ashura were masochistic in nature, often involving self-flagellation because of the focus on mourning, although more recently, many religious officials decried those practices, declaring them un-Islamic.

Some Sunni Muslims fast on Ashura and also recognize the Karbala events even though they are not the focus of the holiday for Sunnis.

For Shiites, the Day of Ashura is arguably more important than it is for Sunnis.

4. Who was Husayn ibn A?

Why is Husayn ibn A such an important Muslim figure?

Husayn ibn A was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Husayn ibn A is also known for being the third Shia Imam, and is highly revered for refusing to give his loyalty to the Umayyad leader Yazid—an outward display of his negative opinions toward the Umayyad rule.

5. Essential Ashura Vocabulary

Here’s some vocabulary you should know for Ashura!

• اسلام (Islam) — Islam
• پانی (paani) — water
• شہید (shaheed) — martyr
• محرم (muharram) — Muharram
• جلوس (jaloos) — procession
• ماتم (maatam) — mourn
• خلیفہ (khaleefa) — caliph
• حسین (Hussain) — Hussain
• کربلا (Karbala) — Karbala
• پیاس (Peyas) — thirst
• شیعہ (Shia) — Shia
• روزہ رکھنا (roza rakhna) — fast

To hear each of these vocabulary words pronounced, visit our Ashura vocabulary list. Here, you’ll find each word accompanied by an audio file of its pronunciation, and a relevant image.

How UrduPod101 Can Help You Master Urdu

What are your thoughts on this significant Muslim holiday? We’d love to hear from you!

To continue learning about Pakistan culture and the Urdu language, explore UrduPod101.com. We provide an array of fun and effective learning tools, for every learner at every level:

• Insightful blog posts on an array of cultural and language-related topics
• Free vocabulary lists covering a range of topics and themes
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• Mobile apps to learn Urdu anywhere, on your own time
• Much, much more!

If you’re interested in a more personalized, one-on-one approach, be sure to upgrade to Premium Plus. Doing so will give you access to your own Urdu teacher who will help you develop a learning plan tailored to your needs and goals. Yes, really!

We know that learning Urdu can be a hassle, but know that your hard work and determination will pay off in the long run. And UrduPod101 will be here with fantastic lessons and constant support to make the learning process as painless as possible.

Don’t forget to offer your Muslim friends an Ashura holiday greeting or nice Ashura holiday wishes!

We wish you all the best in your language-learning endeavors! 🙂

Learn all the Urdu New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join UrduPod101 for a special Urdu New Year celebration!

Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March – December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated.

So, how do you say Happy New Year in Urdu? Let a native teach you! At UrduPod101, you will learn how to correctly greet your friends over New Year, and wish them well with these Urdu New Year wishes!

Table of Contents

1. How to Celebrate New Year in Pakistan
2. Must-Know Urdu Words & Phrases for the New Year!
3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions in Urdu
4. Inspirational New Year Quotes
5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes
6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages
7. How UrduPod101 Can Help You Learn Urdu

But let’s start with some vocabulary for Urdu New Year celebrations, very handy for conversations.

1. How to Celebrate New Year in Pakistan

Pakistan has many regional calendars that are slightly different from one another but generally, the Pakistani calendar follows the lunar year. The New Year celebration varies from region to region with varying rituals, but most celebrate it with spring and a good harvest since it falls around March and April. Because it follows the lunar year, the dates do not always sync with the Gregorian Calendar, which is the contemporary calendar used in most of the world.

Happy New Year!
نیا سال مبارک ہو!
Naiya saal mubarak ho!

“Happy New Year” in Urdu is Naiya saal Mubarak ho. The first word is Naiya and it means “new.” The second word is saal. It means “year.” And Mubarak ho means “greetings.” All together, we have Naiya saal Mubarak ho. This literally means “New Year’s greetings.”

2. Must-Know Urdu Words & Phrases for the New Year!

1- Year

سال
saal

This is pretty self-explanatory. Most countries follow a Gregorian calendar, which has approximately 365 days in a year, while in some cultures, other year designations are also honored. Therefore, New Year’s day in Pakistan could fall on a different day than in your country. When do you celebrate New Year?

2- Midnight

آدھی رات
aadhi raat

The point in time when a day ends and a new one starts. Many New Year celebrants prefer to stay awake till midnight, and greet the new annum as it breaks with fanfare and fireworks!

3- New Year’s Day

نئے سال کا دن
nae saal ka din

In most countries, the new year is celebrated for one whole day. On the Gregorian calendar, this falls on January 1st. On this day, different cultures engage in festive activities, like parties, parades, big meals with families and many more.

4- Party

دعوت
daawat

A party is most people’s favorite way to end the old year, and charge festively into the new one! We celebrate all we accomplished in the old year, and joyfully anticipate what lies ahead.

5- Dancing

رقص
raqs

Usually, when the clock strikes midnight and the New Year officially begins, people break out in dance! It is a jolly way to express a celebratory mood with good expectations for the year ahead. Also, perhaps, that the old year with its problems has finally passed! Dance parties are also a popular way to spend New Year’s Eve in many places.

6- Champagne

شیمپین
shampain

Originating in France, champagne is a bubbly, alcoholic drink that is often used to toast something or someone during celebrations.

7- Fireworks

آتش بازی
aatish baazi

These are explosives that cause spectacular effects when ignited. They are popular for announcing the start of the new year with loud noises and colorful displays! In some countries, fireworks are set off to scare away evil spirits. In others, the use of fireworks is forbidden in urban areas due to their harmful effect on pets. Most animals’ hearing is much more sensitive than humans’, so this noisy display can be very frightful and traumatising to them.

8- Countdown

الٹی گنتی
ulti ginti

This countdown refers to New Year celebrants counting the seconds, usually backward, till midnight, when New Year starts – a great group activity that doesn’t scare animals, and involves a lot of joyful shouting when the clock strikes midnight!

9- New Year’s Holiday

نئے سال کی چھٹی
nae saal ki chutti

In many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday – to recuperate from the party the previous night, perhaps! Families also like to meet on this day to enjoy a meal and spend time together.

10- Confetti

کانفیٹی
kaanfetti

In most Western countries, confetti is traditionally associated with weddings, but often it is used as a party decoration. Some prefer to throw it in the air at the strike of midnight on New Year’s Eve.

11- New Year’s Eve

نئے سال کی شام
nae saal ki shaam

This is the evening before New Year breaks at midnight! Often, friends and family meet for a party or meal the evening before, sometimes engaging in year-end rituals. How are you planning to give your New Year greetings in 2018?

12- Toast

دعوت
daawat

A toast is a type of group-salutation that involves raising your glass to drink with others in honor of something or someone. A toast to the new year is definitely in order!

13- Resolution

قرارداد
qaraardaad

Those goals or intentions you hope to, but seldom keep in the new year! Many people consider the start of a new year to be the opportune time for making changes or plans. Resolutions are those intentions to change, or the plans. It’s best to keep your resolutions realistic so as not to disappoint yourself!

14- Parade

پریڈ
parade

New Year celebrations are a huge deal in some countries! Parades are held in the streets, often to celebratory music, with colorful costumes and lots of dancing. Parades are like marches, only less formal and way more fun. At UrduPod101, you can engage in forums with natives who can tell you what Urdu New Year celebrations are like!

3. Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions

So, you learned the Urdu word for ‘resolution’. Fabulous! Resolutions are those goals and intentions that we hope to manifest in the year that lies ahead. The beginning of a new year serves as a good marker in time to formalise these. Some like to do it in writing, others only hold these resolutions in their hearts. Here are our Top 10 New Year’s resolutions at UrduPod101 – what are yours?

Learn these phrases and impress your Urdu friends with your vocabulary.

1- Read more

مزید پڑھو
mazeed Parho

Reading is a fantastic skill that everyone can benefit from. You’re a business person? Apparently, successful business men and women read up to 60 books a year. This probably excludes fiction, so better scan your library or Amazon for the top business reads if you plan to follow in the footsteps of the successful! Otherwise, why not make it your resolution to read more Urdu in the new year? You will be surprised by how much this will improve your Urdu language skills!

2- Spend more time with family

خاندان کے ساتھ زیادہ وقت گزاریں
Khandan kay saath ziada waqt guzaarain

Former US President George Bush’s wife, Barbara Bush, was quoted as having said this: “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent.” This is very true! Relationships are often what gives life meaning, so this is a worthy resolution for any year.

3- Lose weight

وزن کم کرنا.
Wazan kum kerna

Hands up, how many of you made this new year’s resolution last year too…?! This is a notoriously difficult goal to keep, as it takes a lot of self discipline not to eat unhealthily. Good luck with this one, and avoid unhealthy fad diets!

4- Save money

پیسے بچاؤ
paise bachao

Another common and difficult resolution! However, no one has ever been sorry when they saved towards reaching a goal. Make it your resolution to save money to upgrade your subscription to UrduPod101’s Premium PLUS option in the new year – it will be money well spent!

5- Quit smoking

تمباکو نوشی چھوڑنا.
Tambakoo noshee chorna

This is a resolution that you should definitely keep, or your body could punish you severely later! Smoking is a harmful habit with many hazardous effects on your health. Do everything in your power to make this resolution come true in the new year, as your health is your most precious asset.

6- Learn something new

کچھ نیا سیکھنا.
Kuch naya seekhna

Science has proven that learning new skills can help keep brain diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay! It can even slow down the progression of the disease. So, keep your brain healthy by learning to speak a new language, studying towards a qualification, learning how to sew, or how to play chess – no matter how old you are, the possibilities are infinite!

7- Drink less

کم پیو
kum piyoo

This is another health resolution that is good to heed any time of the year. Excessive drinking is associated with many diseases, and its effect can be very detrimental to good relationships too. Alcohol is a poison and harmful for the body in large quantities!

8- Exercise regularly

باقاعدگی سے ورزش کرو
Baqaidgi say warzish karo

This resolution goes hand-in-hand with ‘Lose weight’! An inactive body is an unhealthy and often overweight one, so give this resolution priority in the new year.

9- Eat healthy

صحت افزا کھائیں۔
Sehat afzaa khayen.

If you stick with this resolution, you will lose weight and feel better in general. It is a very worthy goal to have!

10- Study Urdu with UrduPod101

اردو پاڈ ایک سو ایک ڈاٹ کام کے ساتھ اردو پڑھنا
urdu pod aik so aik daat kaam kay sath urdu parhna

Of course! You can only benefit from learning Urdu, especially with us! Learning how to speak Urdu can keep your brain healthy, it can widen your circle of friends, and improve your chances to land a dream job anywhere in the world. UrduPod101 makes it easy and enjoyable for you to stick to this resolution.

4. Inspirational New Year Quotes

Everyone knows that it is sometimes very hard to stick to resolutions, and not only over New Year. The reasons for this vary from person to person, but all of us need inspiration every now and then! A good way to remain motivated is to keep inspirational quotes near as reminders that it’s up to us to reach our goals.

Click here for quotes that will also work well in a card for a special Urdu new year greeting!

Make decorative notes of these in Urdu, and keep them close! Perhaps you could stick them above your bathroom mirror, or on your study’s wall. This way you not only get to read Urdu incidentally, but also remain inspired to reach your goals! Imagine feeling like giving up on a goal, but reading this quote when you go to the bathroom: “It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.” What a positive affirmation!

5. Inspirational Language Learning Quotes

Still undecided whether you should enroll with UrduPod101 to learn a new language? There’s no time like the present to decide! Let the following Language Learning Quotes inspire you with their wisdom.

Click here to read the most inspirational Language Learning Quotes!

As legendary President Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” So, learning how to say Happy New Year in Urdu could well be a way into someone special’s heart for you! Let this year be the one where you to learn how to say Happy New Year, and much more, in Urdu – it could open many and unexpected doors for you.

6. How To Say Happy New Year in 31 Languages

Here’s a lovely bonus for you! Why stop with Urdu – learn how to say Happy New Year in 31 other languages too! Watch this video and learn how to pronounce these New Year’s wishes like a native in under two minutes.

7. Why Enrolling with UrduPod101 Would Be the Perfect New Year’s Gift to Yourself!

If you are unsure how to celebrate the New Year, why not give yourself a huge gift, and enroll to learn Urdu! With more than 12 years of experience behind us, we know that UrduPod101 would be the perfect fit for you. There are so many reasons for this!

• Custom-tailored Learning Paths: Start learning Urdu at the level that you are. We have numerous Learning Pathways, and we tailor them just for you based on your goals and interests! What a boon!
• Marked Progress and Fresh Learning Material Every Week: We make new lessons available every week, with an option to track your progress. Topics are culturally appropriate and useful, such as “Learning how to deliver negative answers politely to a business partner.” Our aim is to equip you with Urdu that makes sense!
• Multiple Learning Tools: Learn in fun, easy ways with resources such 1,000+ video and audio lessons, flashcards, detailed PDF downloads, and mobile apps suitable for multiple devices!
• Fast Track Learning Option: If you’re serious about fast-tracking your learning, Premium Plus would be the perfect way to go! Enjoy perks such as personalised lessons with ongoing guidance from your own, native-speaking teacher, and one-on-one learning on your mobile app! You will not be alone in your learning. Weekly assignments with non-stop feedback, answers and corrections will ensure speedy progress.
• Fun and Easy: Keeping the lessons fun and easy-to-learn is our aim, so you will stay motivated by your progress!

There’s no reason not to go big in 2018 by learning Urdu with UrduPod101. Just imagine how the world can open up for you!

Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Urdu? UrduPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Urdu Christmas phrases!

Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Urdu speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases and vocabulary, UrduPod101 will teach you the most important ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Urdu!

Table of Contents

1. Holiday Greetings and Wishes
2. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary
3. Twelve Days of Christmas
4. Top 10 Christmas Characters
5. How UrduPod101 Can Help You

1. Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season

1- Merry Christmas!

کرسمس مبارک!
Christmas mubarak

Do you know how to say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Urdu? Learn here how to pronounce it perfectly! ‘Merry’ means to be joyful, to celebrate and generally be in good spirits. So, with this phrase you are wishing someone a joyful, celebratory remembrance of Christ’s birth!

2- Happy Kwanzaa!

کوانزا مبارک !
Kwanzaa Mubarak !

Surprise your African-American, or West African native friends with this phrase over the Christmas holidays! Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious celebration, starting on Dec 26th each year. It has its roots in African American modern history, and many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas!

3- Have a happy New Year!

نیا سال مبارک ہو!
nea saal mubaarik ho!

In countries where Christmas is not officially celebrated, but a Gregorian calendar is observed, this would be a friendly festive-season wish over New Year.

4- Happy Hanukkah!

ہانوکا مبارک !
Hanukka mubarak!

Hanukkah is the beautiful Hebrew festival over November or December each year. It is also called the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is celebrated to commemorate the Jewish freedom of religion.

5- Have a great winter vacation!

بہترین سردیوں کی چھٹیان گزارو !
behtareen sardiyon ki chuttiyan guzaro !

This is a good phrase to keep handy if someone doesn’t observe any religious festival over the Christmas holidays! However, this will only be applicable in the Northern hemisphere, where it is winter over Christmas.

6- See you next year!

اگلے سال ملیں گے!
Aglay saal milain gay

Going away on holiday over Christmas season, or saying goodbye to someone about to leave on vacation? This would be a good way to say goodbye to your friends and family.

7- Warm wishes!

نیک تمنائیں!
naik tamanaen!

An informal, friendly phrase to write in Urdu Christmas cards, especially for secular friends who prefer to observe Christmas celebrations without the religious symbolism. It conveys the warmth of friendship and friendly wishes associated with this time of year.

8- Happy holidays!

چھٹیاں مبارک!
chuttiyan mubarak !

If you forget how to say ‘Merry Christmas!’ in Urdu, this is a safe, generic phrase to use instead.

9- Enjoy the holidays!

چھٹیاں مناؤ
Chutteyan manaoo!

After saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in Urdu, this would be a good phrase with which to wish Christmas holiday-goers well! It is also good to use for secular friends who don’t celebrate Christmas but take a holiday at this time of the year.

10- Best wishes for the New Year!

نئے سال کے لئے نیک تمنائیں!
nae saal kay liye nayek tamanaen!

This is another way of wishing someone well in the New Year if they observe a Gregorian calendar. New Year’s day would then fall on January 1st.

2. Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary

Christmas is associated with many traditions and religious symbols in multiple countries across the world. It originated centuries ago in the West with the birth of Christianity, and the celebrations are often embedded with rich cultural significance. So, by now you know how to say Merry Christmas in Urdu! Next, learn pertinent vocabulary and phrases pertaining to Christmas, as well as how to pronounce them correctly. At UrduPod101, we make sure you sound like a native speaker!

1- Christmas

کرسمس کا دن
krismas ka din

This is the Urdu word for ‘Christmas’. Most happy Christmas wishes in Urdu will include this word!

2- Snow

برف
baraf

In most Northern-hemisphere countries, Christmas is synonymous with snow, and for Christmas, the snowman is often dressed as Santa Claus.

3- Snowflake

سنوفلیک
snowflake

Snowflakes collectively make up snow. A single snowflake is small, white, light like a feather and icy cold! When put under a microscope, the snowflake reveals itself to have the most beautiful, symmetrical patterns. These patterns have become popular Christmas decorations, especially in Western countries.

4- Snowman

برفانی پتلا
Barfani putla

As you guessed – a snowman is only possible to build if it is snowing! What a fun way to spend Christmas day outside.

5- Turkey

ٹرکی
Turkey

Roast turkey is the traditional main dish on thousands of lunch tables on Christmas day, mainly in Western countries. What is your favorite Christmas dish?

6- Wreath

پھولوں کا ہار
phoolon ka haar

Another traditional Western decoration for Christmas, the wreath is an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring. Many families like to hang a Christmas wreath outside on their houses’ front doors.

7- Reindeer

قطبی ہرن
qutbi hirn

Reindeer are the animals commonly fabled to pull Santa Claus’ sled across the sky! Western Christmas folklore tells of Father Christmas or Santa Claus doing the rounds with his sled, carrying Christmas presents for children, and dropping them into houses through the chimney. But who is Santa Claus?

8- Santa Claus

سانتا کلاز
saanta claus

Santa Claus is a legendary and jolly figure originating in the Western Christian culture. He is known by many names, but is traditionally depicted as a rotund man wearing a red costume with a pointy hat, and sporting a long, snow-white beard!

9- Elf

ایلف
elf

An elf is a supernatural creature of folklore with pointy ears, a dainty, humanoid body and a capricious nature. Elves are said to help Santa Claus distribute presents to children over Christmas!

10- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

سرخ ناک والا قطبی ہرن روڈولف
surkh naak wala qutbi hirn rodolf

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a Christmas song based on an American children’s story book with the same name. Rudolph is one of Santa’s reindeer. The song became more famous than the book, and can still be heard playing in many shopping malls over Christmas time across the globe!

11- North Pole

قطب شمالی
qutub e shumaali

The cold North Pole is where Santa Claus is reputed to live with his reindeer!

12- Sled

چھکڑی
chakrri

A sled is a non-motorised land vehicle used to travel over snow in countries where it snows a lot, and is usually pulled by animals such as horses, dogs or reindeer. This one obviously refers to Santa’s sled! Another word for sled is sleigh or sledge.

13- Present

تحفہ
tohfa

Gift or present giving is synonymous with Christmas Eve and the greatest source of joy for children over this festive time! This tradition signifies that Christ’s birth was a gift to mankind, but not all people who hand out presents over Christmas observe the religious meaning.

14- Bell

گھنٹی
ghanti

On Christmas Day, or Christmas Eve, many religious celebrants enjoy going to church for a special sermon and Christmas rituals. The start of the sermon is often announced with bells or a bell, if the church has one. For this reason, the sound of ringing bells is often associated with Christmas Day.

15- Chimney

چمنی
chimney

The chimney is the entrance Santa Claus uses to deliver children’s presents on Christmas Day, according to folklore! Wonder how the chubby man and his elves stay clean…?!

16- Fireplace

چمنی
chimnee

In most countries where it snows, Christmas is synonymous with a fire or burning embers in houses’ fireplaces. Families huddle around its warmth while opening Christmas presents. Also, this is where Santa Claus is reputed to pop out after his journey down the chimney!

17- Christmas Day

کرسمس کا دن
krismas ka din

This is the official day of commemorative celebration of Christ’s birth, and falls each year on December 25.

18- Decoration

سجاوٹ
sajaawatt

Decorations are the colourful trinkets and posters that make their appearance in shops and homes during the Christmas holiday season in many countries! They give the places a celebratory atmosphere in anticipation of the big Christmas celebration. Typical Christmas decorations include colorful photographs and posters, strings of lights, figurines of Santa Claus and the nativity scene, poinsettia flowers, snowflakes and many more.

19- Stocking

سٹاکنگ
staaking

According to legend, Santa Claus places children’s presents in a red stocking hanging over the fireplace. This has also become a popular decoration, signifying Christmas.

20- Holly

ہولی
Holly

Holly is a shrub native to the UK, and parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. It is characterised by glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries. Ironically, its significance for Christmas relates to Christ’s crucifixion and suffering rather than his birth. However, the leaves’ distinctive shape and image have become popular Christmas decorations.

21- Gingerbread house

جنجربریڈ کا گھر
gingerbread ka ghar

According to legend, the gingerbread house synonymous with Christmas is related to Christ’s birth place, Bethlehem. Bethlehem literally means ‘House of Bread’. Over centuries, it has become a popular treat over Christmas time in many non-religious households as well.

22- Candy cane

کینڈی کین
candy cane

According to folklore, Christmas candy canes made their appearance first in Germany in the 16th century. A choir master gave children the candy canes to suck on in church in order to keep them quiet during the Christmas sermon! Apparently, the candy is shaped like a cane in remembrance of the shepherds who were the first to visit the baby Jesus. Today, like gingerbread houses, they are still a popular sweet over the festive season!

23- Mistletoe

امر بیل
amar bail

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on certain trees. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the mistletoe has magical powers, and could protect a household from evil if hung above a door during December. The belief didn’t last but the habit did, and the mistletoe is another popular Christmas decoration!

3. Twelve Days of Christmas

Wow, you’re doing extremely well! You know how to wish someone a Merry Christmas in Urdu, and you learned pertinent vocabulary too! The Twelve Days of Christmas is not very well known in modern times, so, you’re on your way to becoming an expert in Christmas traditions and rituals. Well done!

The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as Twelvetide, is a traditional festive period of 12 days dedicated to celebrate the nativity of Christ. Christmas Day is, for many who observe Twelvetide, the first day of this period.

‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ is also a popular Christmas song about a series of gifts given on each day of Twelvetide. According to experts, these gifts were created as a coded reference to important symbols in the Christian church. Here is a list of those gifts mentioned in the song! Do you recognise them?

4. Top 10 Christmas Characters in American Culture

This is fantastic, you know how to explain almost everything about Christmas in Urdu! However, do you know the most popular Christmas characters in American culture? Your knowledge will not be complete without this list.

5. UrduPod101 Is One Of The Best Online Language Schools Available!

We don’t just say this – we can prove it! Geared to your personal needs and goals, we have several learning paths from which to choose. From Urdu for Absolute Beginners to Advanced Urdu, lessons are designed to meet you where you are, and increase your language abilities in fun, easy and interactive lessons! Mastering a new language has never been this easy or enjoyable.

We have over a decade of experience and research behind us, and it shows! With thousands of audio and video lessons, detailed PDF lessons and notes, as well as friendly, knowledgeable hosts, UrduPod101 is simply unbeatable when it comes to learning correct Urdu. Plenty of tools and resources are available when you study with us. New lessons are added every week so material remains fresh and relevant. You also have the option to upgrade and enjoy even more personalised guidance and services. This is a sure way to fast-track your learning!

So, this Christmas, why don’t you give yourself a present and enroll in UrduPod101? Or give an enrollment as a present to a loved one. It will be a gift with benefits for a whole lifetime, not just over Christmas!