Many Afghan are engulfed in different sort of drug addictions. One of the most popular drugs, which have a large number of users here is sniff. The green- color sniff has arguably the most number of people addicts and that is why many of us are faced with such green spit on the ground while walking in the city.
Sniff has a historical background in Afghanistan; most of the people have spitting pots called “Tuf Dani” available for guests that come to their home, just to make sure the ‘honorable guest don’t spit on their carpets or in their own pockets.
It is also said that during the second Anglo-Afghan War, Emir Dost Muhammad Khan sent a secret message in a sniff case for his son Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan to give- up the fighting.
Sniff also entered to the modern politics recently. Muhammad Muhaqiq, the Deputy Chief Executive recently told the leaders of an anti-government demonstration that people have ‘spitted’ on you during elections so do not claim to be their leader to chant anti-government slogans against the Arg (Presidential Palace).
Also, during a TV interview, Mohaqiq said that the German Government had first announce to accept 700, 000 immigrants but now they are “swallowing back their spit” by rejecting to accept these immigrants.
Some citizens also use the word spit for cursing. During the same anti-government protest on 11th November, the protestors chanted slogans like “No one can stop the people, if each and every member of this demonstration spit just once towards the Arg, the Palace would face a huge flood”.
Beside its political aspects, spitting has also a lot to do with the healing. The Talisman writers in many parts of the country, especially in the rural areas use their “spit with healing power” on the sick persons.
The other kinds of drug also involving spit is called PAN, which is made of a number of tobacco items folded in a green leaf and served with some flavors and sweets. The usage of PAN is popular among some youngsters in Afghanistan. The students at the universities use PAN and then spit around everywhere.
According to some, spitting also vary with seasons. In winter, it is said to become more regular and more infected because the Sun rays often cannot reach the surface of earth hence the dust particles combined with the regular spitting creates more pollution and hence more spitting.
Now, if we consider the population of Kabul City to be around five million, imagine what is going to happen if each of them spit in the public places just once a day!
ENDS
