MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW) – Preparations are in full swing to mark the new Solar Hijri year 1400 celebrations of Nawroz in Mazar-e-Sharif city in Balkh province.
With only a few days to go, the bustle of the people has multiplied here compared to the past.
Nouri Yousefi, a resident of Balkh, told Salam Watandar most families have begun the traditional practice of cleaning and sanitizing and decorating home.
Sayed Ali Mousavi, another resident of Balkh, said: “In different parts of Asia, people share the customs such as preparing Samanak. He said this traditional celebration at such a big scale is unprecedented.
The people’s presence in the traditional bazaars and markets has also doubled in these last days of the year.
Basira, a tailor in Balkh, said she has been quite busy these days: “Yes, we have a lot of sales, people come and see our work and place orders. Our clothes are very popular.”
Officials of the Nowruz celebration commission said they have been instructed by President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to celebrate Nowruz in a traditional way and special arrangements have been made for the celebration.
Mateh-ur-Rehman Karimi, the director of Balkh Information and culture directorate, said that this year, programs such as planting trees and many more would be ensured.
But as every year, the biggest concern of the people is how to ensure the security during Nawruz. Citizens are urging the government, especially the security services, to take security seriously.
The police spokesman Adel Shah Adel said efforts were being made to eliminate threats and deploy security forces to better protect guests and citizens, adding that police security belts and checkpoints on the highways and roads leading to Mazar-e-Sharif have been increased and all passengers and guests entering the city are closely monitored by intelligence and security forces.
Nawruz is celebrated as the first day of the New Year in many countries around the world, including Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Russia, Albania, China, Japan, Iran and Azerbaijan. The historical background of this day in Balkh is attributed to Jamshid, the king of the Pishdadis.
Nawruz has always been celebrated by the people in Afghanistan throughout history, and this celebration was not held only during the rule of the Taliban.
ENDS
