In Afghanistan, New Year is called Navrouz (pronounced Nawrooz), which literally means new day and is one of the oldest holidays celebrated in Central Asia. In Afghanistan the New Year begins on March 21 and is celebrated with community gatherings and special meals. The festival is traditionally celebrated for 2 weeks but, preparations for Nowroz start several days beforehand. The beginning of the New Year is anticipated by the arrival of several migratory birds that arrive in Afghanistan at this time of the year. There is Chaharshanbe Suri, the festival of the night before the last Wednesday before the New Year which is celebrated with bon fires and fire works. Among various traditions and customs, the most important ones are;
Haft Mēwa: In Afghanistan, they prepare Haft Mēwa (Seven Fruits) instead of Haft Sin which is common in Iran. Haft Mēwa is like a Fruit salad made from 7 different Dried fruits, served in its’ own syrup. The 7 dried fruits are: Raisin, Senjed (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), Pistachio, Hazelnut, Prune (dry fruit of Apricot), and Walnut and whether Almond or another species of Plum fruit.
Samanak: It is a special type of sweet dish made from Wheat germ. Women take a special party for it during the night, and cook it from late in the evening till the daylight, singing a special song: Samanak dar Josh o mā Kafcha zanem - Degarān dar Khwāb o mā Dafcha zanem
Mēla-e Gul-e Surkh (Persian: ميلهى گل سرخ ): The Guli Surkh festival which literally means Red Flower Festival (referring to the red Tulip flowers) is an old festival celebrated only in Mazar Sharif during the first 40 days of the year when the Tulip flowers grow. People travel from different parts of the country to Mazar in order to attend the festival. It is celebrated along with the Jahenda Bālā ceremony which is a specific religious ceremony performed in the holy blue mosque of Mazar that is believed (mostly by Sunnite Afghans) to be the site of the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph of Islam. The ceremony is performed by raising a special banner in the blue mosque in the first day of year (i.e. Nowroz). The Guli Surkh party continues with other special activities among people in the Tulip fields and around the blue mosque for 40 days.
Buzkashi: Along with other customs and celebrations, normally a Buzkashi (killing goat) tournament is held. The Buzkashi matches take place in northern cities of Afghanistan and in Kabul.
Special cuisines: People cook special types of dishes for Nowroz, especially on the eve of Nowroz. Normally they cook Sabzi Chalaw, a dish made from rice and spinach, separately. Moreover, the bakeries prepare a special type of cookie, called Kulcha-e Nowrozī, which is only baked for Nowroz. Another dish which is prepared mostly for the Nowroz days is Māhī wa Jelabī (Fried Fish and Jelabi) and it is the most often meal in picnics. In Afghanistan, it is a common custom among the affianced families that the fiancé's family give presents to or prepare special dishes for the fiancée's family on special occasions such as in the two Eids, Barā'at and in Nowroz. Hence, the special dish for Nowroz is Māhī wa Jelabī.
Visiting outdoor areas and parks-nature retreats: The citizens of Kabul go to Istalif, Charikar or other green places around where the Cercis flowers grow. They go for picnic with their families during the first 2 weeks of New Year.
Jashni Dehqān: Jashni Dehqan means The Festival of Farmers. It is celebrated in the first day of year, in which the farmers walk in the cities as a sign of encouragement for the agricultural productions. In recent years, this activity is being performed only in Kabul and other major cities, in which the mayor and other high governmental personalities participate for watching and observing.
In Mazar Sherif where people believe Imam Ali is buried celebrations have a religious dimension. The holiday begins with the raising of a green religious banner; standard or janda (alam) in the courtyard of the city's magnificent blue-domed shrine. That is where, according to Afghan traditions, Imam Ali, cousin and son in law of Prophet Muhammad and the first Shiite religious leader, is buried (It must be noted that Imam Ali's holly shrine is actually located in the city of Najaf in Iraq; however, the Afghans believe that it is not). For several weeks until the janda is taken down in a second ceremony on the 13th day of the New Year, the city will host tens of thousands of visitors from across Afghanistan. During this period, all of those who have a heartfelt wish and the ailed stay at the foot of the banner and crave for their wish to come true. It is said that many of the patients have recovered under this very banner. They also believe that should the banner be held smoothly the year ahead would be a prosperous one.
Their reasons for journeying north are as varied as the provinces from which the pilgrimage hails. There are giddy young men who come to dance in the streets or listen to concerts. There are devout who come to pay solemn homage to Imam Ali. And there are parents of disabled children who come to beg for a miraculous cure.
Within each group Afghans from vastly different provinces are mingling with a degree of ease that is notable in a nation still struggling to forge a national identity after years of regional conflict.
That sense of community was one of the few uplifting aspects of the Chila Khana. A large fenced-off out door nock in Mazar-e- Sharif shrine's western wall, the Chila Khana or House of Forty, is reserved for the most seriously ill and disabled of worshipers. According to tradition, those who sleep here each night until the janda is taken down will be cured of whatever ails them.
A few days into Norouz, more than 100 pilgrims were huddled there in a tableau of human misery. Buzkashi matches are held during Norouz or Persian New Year. Horsemen race each other while fighting for a headless goat carcass. Buzkashi is said to date from the time of Genghis Khan. With their Asiatic feature, high heeled boots and quilted jackets and sashes, the professional players look as though they step out of another area, but they had also accessorize their outfits with a few touches from Afghan's more recent past including olive green Soviet tanker's helmets from 1980s and black plastic knee pads that would have fit in with the rollerblades in Rock Creek Park.
Every few minutes the scrum of horsemen whooshed by in a blur of clattering hoofs, rearing horses and cracking whips. Then the announcer would call out of the name of the player judged to have gained possession of the carcass never an obvious choice and the winner ride up to receive a fistful of cash from the sponsor of that round.
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