A number of youth in Samangan province say they are working to promote a culture of reading among the people, particularly the younger generation, by establishing private libraries and cultural institutions.
A number of women interviewed by Salam Watandar say that social restrictions have limited their access to in-person educational materials, while online educational resources have become the primary means for continuing their education.
With the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, the atmosphere in cities and along roads has changed. People’s movements to visit relatives and friends increase, and the
For many women in Afghanistan, Eid is not just a celebration; it is an opportunity for families to gather, strengthen their bonds, and keep alive traditions that have been rooted in the country’s culture for generations. During this time, homes are filled with the colors and atmosphere of Eid, as women enthusiastically prepare Eid sofras—Sofras that symbolize hospitality, love, and the preservation of long-standing traditions.
Although women’s right to own land is recognized under law and Islamic Sharia in Afghanistan, some women engaged in farming lands in Faryab say they have been denied this right. They explain that, despite inheriting agricultural land and putting in years of hard work in plowing, sowing, irrigating, and harvesting—the land deeds have still not been registered in their names due to incorrect social customs.
“My mother always told me to marry the man she chose. She said I had to accept, otherwise people would gossip about us. When the suitor came, my parents met him themselves. My father said, ‘What does the girl need to do? We have seen him and his family. It would be shameful—what will people say?’ They never realized he was addicted to drugs. I am not satisfied, and my father sacrificed me for the sake of customs and people’s opinions because I could not meet the boy before the engagement.” she says.
A team of young developers has designed the “Bulbul” app, making religious, educational, artistic, and novel books available in audio format, especially for young people and children. The creators of this app told Salam Watandar that users can, by downloading the program, listen to books even while working, driving, or performing daily activities, and use it to increase their knowledge and skills.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) says that as more languages disappear around the world, linguistic diversity is increasingly at risk. Marking International Mother Language Day, the organization highlighted the urgent need to protect and promote the world’s many languages.
The Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Parwan says it has burned nearly 500 musical instruments in the province.
A grand cultural gathering was held in Kabul to honor the enduring legacy of two prominent historical and literary figures, Amir Ali-Shir Nava’i and Zahir-ud-Din Muhammad Babur.
The meeting was held on Thursday (Feb. 12), during which various issues were discussed. Among the topics raised was a directive from the leadership of the Islamic Emirate stating that signboards written in Pashto, Dari or Uzbek before its return to power should remain unchanged and that their language must not be altered.
Officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) under the Islamic Emirate say that the restoration of Afghanistan’s historical, cultural, and ancient sites is one of the ministry’s top priorities.
