KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Not since the 1970s was there as large a turnout for a new year’s celebration as the one witnessed, March 21, at the Khakrez District Center in Kandahar province.
More than 3,500 Afghans celebrated at the district center, coming from as far away as Kabul and Herat to ring in the Persian New Year, known to Afghans as “Nowruz.”
Provincial officials, including Kandahar Gov. Tooryalai Wesa, were on hand to witness opening remarks from Khakrez District Gov. Haji Abdul Qayum Khan.
“This is a new year,” Khan said. “We should all work to bring peace to our land.”
Afghan national security forces – including Afghan national police, Afghan border police and soldiers from the Afghan national army – provided security for the festival, which concluded without incident.
“This should never be a land of violence,” said Abdullah Nughore, a local Kandahar singer who later entertained the crowd with poetry and song. “This is a land of poem, history and legend.”
Nughore repeated the chorus “long live our country” during a medley of songs met with loud applause from the crowd.
“I celebrated Nowruz last year in Kandahar City because everyone was worried about security,” said Zullhaq, a 19-year-old student who arrived by bus with many other Kandahar City students. “Nobody expected this kind of turn out.”
“It took me three days of travel before I arrived here,” added Sainullah, a 19-year-old student from Kabul. “I have had a great time, and I am able to see my family.”
A U.S. Special Forces team leader who attended the event said after everyone arrived, the citizens told him more people showed up than at any time in the past 40 years.
“I give the Afghan national security forces credit,” he said. “They managed a tremendously difficult security situation without a single incident.”
The celebrations concluded around 5 p.m., though many citizens, including the Kabul student Sainullah, stayed to socialize and shop at the Khakrez bazaar.
“I used to worry about security so much I would not have thought of coming to Kandahar [for Nowruz],” Sainullah said. “[But] many people came and no one is fighting, so I am happy.”
| Date Taken: |
03.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
03.23.2011 07:27 |
| Story ID: |
67581 |
| Location: |
KHAKREZ DISTRICT, AF |
| Web Views: |
185 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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