Celebrating Nowruz has a long history in Herat province. For countless years, the people of Herat eagerly welcomed the arrival of Nowruz, celebrating the new year and the arrival of spring. However, Nowruz celebrations have now been banned by the Taliban, preventing citizens from leaving their homes to partake in the festivities and witness the rebirth of nature.
The residents of Herat are requesting permission from the Taliban to celebrate this cherished day in the year 1403 Solar Hijri Calendar.
Herat, known as a cultural city in Afghanistan, used to host annual Nowruz and New Year celebrations in parks and cultural venues, featuring cultural and musical programs. However, the city now lacks the permission to raise the banner of freshness and vitality and has fallen into the cold silence of winter.
With the prohibition on celebrating Nowruz by the Taliban, this marks the third year that citizens of the country, especially the residents of Herat, are unable to properly observe the Nowruz festival. Many believe that under the Taliban’s rule, celebrating freshness and vitality is considered a “crime,” depriving people of their right to joyfully live and uphold ancient traditions. According to them, the Taliban conflict with the progressive and cultural values of the Afghan people.
Some residents of Herat claim that the Taliban have deprived them of celebrating the New Year. According to them, last year the Taliban did not allow Herati families to celebrate Nowruz and prevented them from going to recreational parks, and this ban continues this year as well.
Jalil (pseudonym) is one of the residents of Herat province. He, who used to celebrate the first day of the year by leaving the city with his family in previous years, says that since the Taliban took power, he has not been able to freely celebrate the Nowruz festivities.
Speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, this Herat resident says, “Every year, on the first day of the year, we used to go to Karukh district or Dasht-e Hawz and Parwana area. We would take everything with us, cook, and enjoy ourselves because it has become a deeply rooted culture among us Herat City residents to go out and have fun with our families on the occasion of the New Year.”
Jalil adds, “Last year, we were all prepared since the night before and had prepared a lot of items to go with our families to Karukh district the next day; but in the morning, the Taliban did not allow us and said celebrating the New Year is forbidden. They told us to go back home. No matter what we said, it didn’t work, so we returned home, and that’s why we have no plans this year.”
Despite not having any plans for the new Solar Year, he asks the Taliban to allow people to celebrate their cultural and historical values and renew their covenant with Nowruz by honoring the birth of the sun and the sprouting of greenery.
The restrictions imposed by the Taliban and their prohibition of celebrating Nowruz have led the residents of Herat and other citizens of the country to refrain from holding grand Nowruz celebrations and commemorating this ancient festival.
Another resident of Herat, Somaya, says that the Taliban have forced them to stay indoors on the first day of spring. According to her, the Taliban take away anything that brings happiness and joy to the people.
Somaya states, “The Taliban have left nothing called happiness for the people. Anything that they see brings joy to the citizens, they take it away from them, just like Nowruz, whose celebration was taken from us. Unfortunately, last year the Taliban did not allow us to celebrate this day, and after trying every possible way and being stopped by the Taliban, we returned home and spent the first day of the year at home.”
She further adds, “The Taliban had seized all the city gates and did not allow anyone to leave the city for recreation. We returned to the city, and even the recreational parks were closed to us, they said that celebrating Nowruz means following the Magi, and now the Islamic government no longer allows anyone to do so. Go back to your homes and enjoy yourselves on non-Nowruz days.”
The Taliban in Herat prevented city dwellers from going out to celebrate Nowruz by blocking the city gates; however, some youths who had gone out of the city for recreation a day before Nowruz also complained of mistreatment by Taliban fighters.
They say that the Taliban collected and confiscated items they were using during their gatherings.
This comes as the Taliban, following their takeover of Afghanistan, have imposed extensive restrictions on the country’s citizens and prohibited celebrations that bring joy and happiness to the people.
Citizens say that Afghanistan is the only country where its residents are not allowed to enjoy and celebrate the first day of the New Year, and they have been condemned to stay at home by the Taliban.
