Nawroz

From TheBestLinks.com

Nawroz or Nowroz festival celebrates the coming of spring by nations of Aryan heritage, who have a common foundation, language and history. These include Afghans, Iranians, Tajiks, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Balouchis, Uzbeks.

Nawrouz (New Year's Day - For Solar Calendar, 21st of March) New Year in Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and among Kurds.

History

Nawroz is coincided with the first day of Spring season. Most Ancient Festival in Afghan Culture. Nawroz means New Day in Farsi Language. Nawroz is coincided with the first day of Spring (Bahar) in Afghanistan; symbolically, Spring is the beginning of life in nature, the beginning of labor and love to land and birds. Historically, however, Nawroz has been celebrated on March 21 for thousands of years; in fact, it is the earliest-known new year festival in the world's history. It is believed that Nawrouz holiday was founded by the Zoroastrian prophet, Prophet Spenta Zarathustra and was first celebrated in Afghanistan about 4000 years ago in Northern Afghanistan. It is said that 5000 thousand years ago when King Yama of ancient Bacteria (Afghanistan) established the solar calendar, he named the first day Naw roz (new day), during the week of Lala Zaar (Tulips).

Zoroaster's religion preached faith in a single God, Ahuramzda, the creator of the universe, and belief in the eternity of the soul. Its slogans of good thought, good deed and good speech were the very first social rules for its followers.

This religion focused on joy and happiness and eschewed sorrow and unhappiness. It also preached that once a year the souls of the ancestors came down to visit those left on earth and wanted the people to prepare for the occasion and to allow the visitors to find joy, happiness and cleanliness everywhere. Fire and light were sacred and since the source of the light, the Sun, was the origin of time, their solar calendar began with the first day of spring.

The solar year, with 365 days and six hours, was divided into twelve thirty-day months. There were five days left at the end of the year and before the advent of the new year which were allotted for preparation of the celebration. During these days, the Aryans cleaned their homes, prepared new clothes and gathered the best of food and fruits to be offered to the visiting souls of the ancestors. A special drink brewed from the purest herb roots and called Soma was also prepared for the occasion. The Aryans were well versed in music and dance and thus they would come out from the winter to meet the spring, and the new year with joy, happiness, songs and dances. So it was for centuries and generations.

The advent of Islam and its expansion eastward into Afghanistan and beyond deeply affected every aspect of life in the conquered lands. Military domination was replaced by cultural influence. Arab culture, language and ways of life struggled to replace those in the conquered countries. But the tradition of Now Roz, the new day, continued to exist. For one thing, throughout history, Afghans have valued their age old traditions so much so that many of the invaders and conquerors were forced to adapt to the country's culture rather than purely imposing their own.

Nawrouz was given a religious aspect. It was dedicated to celebrate the day when the Commander of faithful Imam Ali (a) became the fourth Caliph. Thousands of people at the eve of New Year travel to Mazar-e Sharif to view the spectacular site of tulips and to visit the famous mosque, Ziarat-e Sakhi , where Hazrat Ali (a) is believed to be entombed.

On the night of Now Roz, Afghans ate Sabzi Chalau with the meat of the white rooster. They also prepared another special dish, Samanak, made from the sprouts of very young wheat germs grown on special trays. Samanak was prepared overnight 14 hours by groups of young maidens who cooked it over burning wood fire in big pans and sang songs of Now Roz all night long.

Also many of the believers went to the shrine of Hazrath Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam, at the foothill of Shair Darwaza paying homage to his memory. Many people would try to pass through the split rock located near the shrine. Those who passed easily were considered innocent and those who experienced difficulty in passing through were called sinners.

while in Kandahar, there is wrestling, Naiza Bazi (archery), Ghaizh, Neshan Weshtal (various sports). In Afghanistan, the spring is also celebrated as the Rooz-e-Dehqan (day of the farmer) accompanied by agricultural shows, and as Jashn-e-Nehal Shani (the day of planting of trees). Some of the special food items prepared during Nowrouz are Kulcha-e-Nowrouzi (the Nowrouz bread), Maiwa ye Tarkarda (7 nuts in sweetened water), Sabzi Challow (Spinach and Rice). A favourite outdoor activity on Nowrouz is called Sabza Laqhat Kardan, when families go to the fields and farms and spend the day picnicking.

It is believed by Iranians that Nawrouz acknowledged officially and named "Nowroz" by a mythical Persian emperor, Jamshid. Others have credited the Achaemenid Dynasty for for institutionalizing the Nowrouz festival. So, it is hard to suggest the exact history of Nawroz. The connection between Nawrouz and Zoroastrians is in the Gathas, the scripture of Zoroastrians. It consists of seven attributes called the Amesha Spentas meaning "Bounteous Immortals" and to this day seven has remained a very significant number in the festival of Nao Roz: the Persian have "Haft-Seen" and the Afghans have "Haft-Maiwa". Haft Seen is a mix of seven different foods that the names are started with a letter Seen (C). Haft Maiwa is the mix of seven different dry fruits.

Festivities Highlights in Afghanistan

There are different festivities that celebrated in different regions of the country at the Nao Roz. Among the most important festivities are as following:

In Balkh, Samangan, Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, and Faryab:

The raising of Jandy Sakhi [Flag of Imam Ali] at the first day of New Year.
Maila ye Gul-e-Surkh [The Red Flower Picnic]
Boz Kashi [Horse and Goat Game]
Samanak.

In Kabul, Ghazni, Panjshar, Wardak, and Ghor:

Attan-i- Nawroz (Afghan Dance Both sexes dance the attan, a national dance in which dancers with arms raised twist
from side to side at the waist as they step in a slow, rhythmic pattern around a circle)
Raising of the Janday Sakhi [Flag of Imam Ali] at the first day of New Year.
Samanak

In Kandahar, Herat, Nuristan, Pashawar, Wazeriztan Khost, Zabul:

There would be Wrestling, Naiza Bazi, Ghaizh, Neshan Weshtal,
Rooz-e-Dehqan [accompanied by agricultural shows]
Jashn-e-Nehal Shani. [planting of trees]
Food Specials During Nawroz
Kulcha-e-Nowrouzi (A type of cake)
Maiwa ye Tarkarda also called haft Maiwa [7 nuts in sweetened water]
Sabzi Challow [Spinach and Rice] on new year's eve.

Special Outdoor Activities

Buzkashi
Sabza Laqhat Kardan -- Families go to the fields and farms and spend the day picnicking.

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