Nawruz
The beginning of springtime and a cultural holiday in Afghanistan. It is also celebrated by the majority of Afghanistan around the world. Preparation for New Year starts several days beforehand, and people do special activities that the most important of them are Buzkashi, Guli Surkh festival, Haft Mēwa,Jahanda Bala,Jashn-e-Dehqan, Samanak, and includes special cuisines.
Buzkashi
Along with other traditional games, a tournament of Buzkashi is held during the Guli Surkh festival in Mazare-sharif and other parts of Afghanistan.
Guli Surkh festival
This festival is celebrated in Mazare-sharif during the first 40 days of the New Year when tulip flowers grow on the hills and surrounding the city people from all over Afghanistan travel to Mazare-sharif to attend the New Year festivals.
Haft Mēwa
People prepare Haft Mēwa for the New Year. Haft Mēwa is made from 7 different dried fruits. The 7 dry fruits are raisins,pistachios,hazelnuts,prunes,walnuts, and either almonds or another species of plum fruit.
Jahanda Bala
Jahanda Bala is celebrated on the first day of the New Year, and it is performed in specific mosques. The ceremony is performed by raising a special banner. Up to 200,000 people get together from all over Afghanistan and celebrate the banner raising ceremony.
Jashn-e-Dehqan
The festival of farmers. It is celebrated on the first day of the New Year. Farmers walk into cities as a sign of encouragement for agricultural production. The mayor and other high governmental personalities participate in watching and observing.
Samanak
Type of sweet dish made from germinated wheat and usually cooked on the evening of New Year. Women have a special party during the night and sing special songs.
Special cuisines and Holidays:
People cook Sabzi Challow, a dish made of rice and spinach. Moreover, the bakeries prepare a special type of cookie called Kulcha-e-Nowruzi, which is only baked for New Year.
Eid Qurban and Ramadan:
On Eid Qurban, muslims demonstrate their obedience to Allah by sacrificing an animal. That animal can be cows, sheep, goats, and camels. Wealthy muslims in Afghanistan usually slaughter lambs on the day of Eid Qurban. Each family consumes one-third offer, distributed one-third among family and friends, and one-third among the poor. The sacrifice tradition takes place in remembrance of the Quranic story of Ibrahim’s sacrifice.
Eid Qurban is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general population and schools, and most businesses are closed. People wear new clothes and eat nuts, cakes, cookies, and different kinds of chocolates.
In Afghanistan, people welcome Ramadan Eid in a special way. People got prepared for Eid by cleaning their house, buying new clothes, and cooking different kinds of food. Before going to the mosque in the early morning, people go to cemeteries to pray for people who pass away. When they come back home, they say happy Eid to each other and enjoy their breakfast. After eating breakfast people go to their relatives house and play games with them. Adults give money to children and teenagers, and they buy candy. All around Afghanistan is a public holiday for 3 days.
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