Since August 2021 when the Taliban have regained power through some unethical political deals behind the screen, the rebels have imposed certain rules and regulations that are not only against human morals but are contradicting the current realities of Afghan society and time. As part of their irresponsible moves, they canceled the public holiday on Nowruz festival, which used to be public on the calendar. In addition to declaring the day official working day, the Ministry of Higher Education forced the students to attend their classes by scheduling exams on this day which left no option for students, except to attend the classes and miss the good time of celebrations and entertainment.
Experts in cultural spheres say that Nowruz is an ancient tradition of the ancestors and people celebrate it. No matter if the rebels like it or not. Nowruz is being celebrated every year in many countries, including Afghanistan. It is a symbol of fresh begging and a new start to life. Opposing to celebrate such events that have very deep roots in the history of a measurable segment of the country’s population is like rejecting their civilization and citizenship. To support the rebels stand against the festival, like minded people in some parts of the country did not celebrate the day while, they used celebrate it in the past.
Students Miss the Chance to Celebrate Nowruz
Esmatullah Azimi, a student at Balkh University, said that he was very delighted to spend Nowruz on holiday, but university officials forced them to attend their classes by scheduling exam on this day. Azimi strongly criticized the Ministry of Higher Education’s stand against the moral and values of the people.
Muqtadir Tawana, a student at Kabul Polytechnic University agree with the Taliban’s decision on removing the day from calendar of not having any religious justification. On the other hand, students in Kunduz, Baghlan and other northern universities have strongly criticized the Ministry of Higher Education’s decision on cancelation of public holiday. They have further urged the Taliban rebels to respect the values.
Afghanistan’s Markets Suffer Bankruptcy and Recession
The residents of Mazar-e-Sharif had decorated the city the same way as it was being decorated in the past for welcoming guests during the Nowruz festival; in contrast, this year the city was quite with no outsider guests that directly affected the flow of businesses and markets.
Juma Gol, a shopkeeper in Mazar-e-Sharif, complained about the market situation, especially during Nowruz, saying that the situation is not admirable and the businesses fail on daily bases. “Nowruz festival used to be the peak business season, but this year, the city is empty and the business are down.”
Simultaneously, the businesses along Kabul-Balkh highway used to entertain a lot as of the receiving guests during the season, Mohammad Nasim, a shopkeeper on the Salang Highway, said the poor economic situation and restrictions imposed by the Taliban on Nowruz celebration are the reasons for the decline in the number travelers. He further added that in previews years, five days left to Nowruz, the crowds of passengers and travelers used to pass the highway and give fresh start to the businesses along the highway.
Nowruz festival in the land of Buddhas (Bamiyan) also did not take place as gloriously as the past. Local Taliban members did not allow the banner-raising ceremony to take place in the Mir Hashem mosque in Bamiyan.
Taliban’s Ideology on Nowruz Festival Does not Have Religious Base
Despite restriction and officially denial of Taliban on celebrating the festival, the people in different parts of the country did celebrate the first of the festival. Taliban members at the Ministry of Information and Culture declared the event as non-Islamic practice and did not announce it as official public holiday. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman and Acting Deputy Minister of Information and Culture of Taliban declared that the event is against our ideology and Taliban do not celebrated it, but the people are free to celebrate it.
In contrast to the announcement of Taliban to let the people celebrate, their rebels and soldiers in different parts of the country have intervened and prevented the people of celebrating the festival. It seems like Taliban do not have any control over their soldiers and rebels in remote parts of the country. Every commander in an area has his own rules and regulation with no consideration of the orders and decrees being issued from Kabul.
No Matter If the Rebels Like It or Not, We Celebrate It
Mohammad Jafar Rastin, a cultural activist and former government official at the Ministry of Information and Culture, told Hasht-e Subh that Nowruz, as a symbol of a new beginning. It is a transnational and multilingual festival, adding that “no matter if the rebels like it or not, the people celebrate.” It is not rational for the ruling rebels to oppose the historical events such as Nowruz. It solves nothing but adds to the distance and disqualification the rulers by the public. .
“The mission of people, in order to keep the message of Nowruz alive is to celebrate Nowruz widely at the level of families and small communities,” Rastin emphasized. It is true that the move by the Taliban may have a negative impact, but people celebrate the day comprehensively and meaningfully.
The cultural activist reminded that the actions of the Taliban toward Nowruz are not only in contradiction with cultural values, but also in contradiction with nature and human life.
Nowruz, the Persian New Year is one of the very ancient events with a long history background connected to the Persian Civilization. The event is named after the Persian king, Jamshed, who is credited for creating the Persian or the Shahenshahi calendar. Based on the legend, Jamshed saved the world from an apocalypse that came in the form of a winter and destined to kill everyone. The event is celebrated throughout Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian countries.
Opposing to this historical event has no religious base, but political and ethnical motives by the rebels who have turned the country into a hell since their re-emergence on the screens.
[highlight color=”gray”]Hasht-e Subh[/highlight]
