MAZAR-E SHARIF, Afghanistan – Amid tight security from Afghan National Defense Forces, the Nowruz, or “New Day,” opening ceremonies welcomed in the 1391 New Year here March 20, 2012.
Mazar-e Sharif holds the largest of the country-wide festivities every year marking the vernal (spring) equinox.
The Janda Bala (flag-hoisting) ceremony kicked off the day’s events and dignitaries from the northern region spoke to the crowd in attendance. Balkh province Gov. Atta Muhammad Noor invited Regional Command North commander Maj. Gen. Erich Pfeffer to attend the start of festivities at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Blue Mosque) in Mazar-e Sharif.
“It was a great honor for me to be there as a guest for the opening ceremony at the Blue Mosque,” Pfeffer said. “It was impressive to see how the Afghan people celebrate the new year and gave me a good impression of their traditions and culture.”
In Mazar-e Sharif, several concerts are held during the week to welcome in the new year. Musical artists from the United States, Tajikistan, Turkey, Pakistan and India will perform for the crowds of Afghans in the city for the celebration. Many Afghan musicians and singers have traveled from throughout the country to perform for the scheduled events as well.
In a statement, Pfeffer praised the coalition effort toward bringing stability to Afghanistan.
“I celebrate the 1391 Nowroz with the soldiers of International Security Assistance Force Regional Command North here in Mazar-e Sharif and all throughout northern Afghanistan. There are many events, such as planting trees and enjoying celebrations, but one significant act that continues to grow on a daily basis is our partnership.”
During the years when the Taliban ruled in Afghanistan, Nowruz was not celebrated due to the thought that it was a pagan holiday centered on fire worship. Ever since the liberation of Afghanistan in 2001 by coalition forces, Afghans have traveled from throughout the country to Mazar-e Sharif, Kabul and other large cities to celebrate the national holiday. The observance of Nowruz dates back to more than 3,000 years and the holiday is celebrated in many other countries such as Iran, Turkey, India, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan just to name a few.
On Nowruz, Afghans dress in new clothes and exchange gifts with one another; first with the young giving gifts to the old, and then the old passing them to the young. It is said that how you live on Nowruz will determine what type of year you will have, meaning if you do good deeds and participate in family gatherings peacefully, then you will have a year full of the same.
In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly formally recognized the International Day of Nowruz.
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.22.2012 04:03 |
| Story ID: | 85584 |
| Location: | MAZAR-E-SHARIF, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,246 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Nowruz celebrated in Mazar-e Sharif, by PO1 Richard Wolff, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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