Some residents of Balkh province say that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban and their opposition to celebrating Nowruz have caused people to refrain from traditional Nowruz customs and festivities, keeping them confined to their homes. Reflecting on not-so-distant memories and reminiscing about past joyful Nowruz celebrations, Balkh residents express how the joy of Nowruz has turned into a mere wish for them. They emphasize the importance of cultural and civil resistance, with some youths and intellectuals believing that by setting the Nowruz table, embracing nature, and hosting small gatherings, people can keep the Nowruz culture alive.
Nowruz is celebrated annually in Afghanistan with special customs and rituals. The Haft Seen spread, preparing Samanak, and local dishes such as Bolani, Ashak, Mantu, etc., are integral parts of Nowruz traditions, particularly among the residents of Balkh province.
While Afghan citizens view Nowruz as the onset of the season of freshness and the renewal of nature and celebrate it as a relief from the cold and dry winter, the Taliban consider it against Islamic teachings and have banned its celebration.
Zainab, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif who has witnessed many years of celebrating the New Year and decorating with red flowers, expresses nostalgia for those days and past joys, but she doesn’t have the freedom to be happy under Taliban rule. Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, Zainab says, “We used to live with enthusiasm and vitality. We would start our preparations by planting Samanak. We would store wheat in special baskets for seeding until, one day, with the end of the year approaching, our Samanak would be green and ready to cook. We would have a thorough spring cleaning for fifteen days, removing all the soot and dust from our homes that had accumulated during winter.” She adds, “We would set up the Haft Seen spread and prepare the seven fruits on the eve of the New Year. A few days before the New Year, we would all buy new clothes, and overall, we had hope and love for life. But now, these things remain only as wishes for us because nobody dares to do these things. Even going freely to visit family members is impossible.”
Before the Taliban’s takeover, celebrating Nowruz and decorating with red flowers held significant value among citizens and government officials. Various programs, including fireworks and city clean-ups, were launched to celebrate Nowruz by municipal authorities and some merchants.
Latifa Sahar, another woman from Balkh province, wishes she could once again experience the happiness of her past years. Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, she reminisces about the Nowruz celebrations: “It’s very painful that people can’t be as happy as before and enjoy their lives. Before the fall of the government, despite the lack of proper security, which was undoubtedly caused by the Taliban, we still had the opportunity to live joyfully. When the New Year arrived, most families, with their beliefs intact, would simultaneously start the new year by offering votive pots and preparing Samanak. Eating vegetables among the dishes on the eve of Nowruz was definite and necessary. The Haft Seen spreads would be set up, and the seven fruits would be prepared. Families would visit their elders, gather together, and create memories.”
Mrs. Sahar says that citizens, regardless of religious matters, consider Nowruz as a valued tradition and a way to freshen up their homes after the winter. She adds, “We had an enthusiastic spring cleaning, and on the eve of Nowruz, the girls in the family would gather to apply henna. On the first days of the year, dressed in new clothes, we would freely go to the fields with our families, engage in activities like roaming around the greenery, photography, and filming beside the greenery, and spend joyful days together. But suddenly, we lost everything, and now we don’t have the right to education, work, or even the freedom to dress and move around in our own country. It couldn’t be more painful than this.”
Since coming to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions on citizens, including banning the celebration of Nowruz, which they consider contrary to Islamic teachings.
However, some intellectuals and youth in Balkh argue that people have various ways to resist Taliban restrictions and should not simply succumb to their oppression. According to them, cultural and civil resistance is one of the ways to combat Taliban extremism.
Pardis Balkhi (pseudonym), one of the intellectuals in this province, says, “It’s true that we’re all imprisoned to some extent, but there are still ways of resistance and resilience. People can set up their Nowruz spreads, enjoy their small gatherings, recite poetry, and implement all the programs they had in the past, albeit on a smaller and more intimate scale, to protect themselves. We should not simply surrender to the Taliban and their oppressive and anti-humanitarian ideologies.”
However, one of the intellectuals from Balkh province, who prefers to remain anonymous in the report, asserts that the tradition of Nowruz has a long-standing history and no oppression has been able to erase Nowruz from memory or hinder its festivity and freshness. He states, “People should continue their Nowruz customs and culture. In a situation where fear prevails and the Taliban keep a close eye on people’s actions, it’s not necessary to have large gatherings. Keeping Nowruz alive through small-scale programs, joy, and hope for the dawn of light amidst darkness is itself a way of honoring Nowruz. We must experience and practice this.”
It’s worth mentioning that in the past two years, Taliban fighters have prevented families from going to parks and recreational areas, and some youths have been subjected to beatings. Now, given the bitter experience with the Taliban and the fact that Nowruz falls during the month of Ramadan this year, this cultural event lacks its past vibrancy for the residents of Balkh province.