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Festival in Afghanistan
The meaning of festival:
1- a day or period of celebration,
typically for religious reasons.
2- an organized series of concerts, plays,
or films, typically one held annually in
the same place
The Afghans have always celebrated their
festivals with dollops of enthusiasm.
Afghan festivals can broadly be categorised
into three types: Traditional, National and
Religious. Nauroz is the largest and best
known festival of Afghanistan. JeshynAfghan Day, a national day, is observed on
19August. Most Afghans have adopted
Islam as their religion and celebrate all
their religious festivals with devotion and
zeal.
Popular Festivals
Ashura
Nau Roz (New year Festival)
Mawleed al Nabi (Birthday of Prophet
Muhammad)
Labour Day
Jeshyn-Afghan Day
Ramadan
Eid e Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Eid e Qurban
Ashura
10th Day of the month of Muharram
Musharram commemorates the
martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's
grandson, Imam Hussain or Husayn bin
Ali, whom Shias regard as the rightful
successor the Prophet. Muharram is the
first month month day of Islamic
calendar. Ashura is the tenth day of this
month of mourning.
Nau Roz (New year Festival)
January-March (Date variable
according to Islamic calendar)
Nau Roz is the largest and best known
festival in Afghanistan, particularly in
Mazar e Sharif, where it is called Gul e
Sorkh. Buzkashi matches are held.
People play music and dance. Farmers
express their joy for the produce.
Mawleed al Nabi (Birthday of
Prophet Muhammad)
March-May (Date variable
according to Islamic calendar)
People offer special prayers in the
mosques and remember the reverred
Prophet. They also visit or entertain
family and friends.
Special food in Nowroze
Eid e Fitr (End of Ramadan)
October-December (Date variable
according to Islamic calendar)
After month long fasting people enjoy
the feast of Eid ul Fitr. People pray
collectively in mosques, and then go to
meet their friends and relatives. They
wear new clothes and eat sweet dishes.
Eid e Qurban
December-February (Date variable
according to Islamic calendar)
Eid e Qurban marks the commencement
of Haj or Muslim pilgrimage. Animals
like sheep, goats or camels are sacrificed
for the feast of Eid e Qurban.
The End