KABUL, Afghanistan — As Nawroz marks the beginning of the solar year 1404, celebrations across the country are subdued, stifled by Taliban restrictions and deepening economic hardship.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have declared public observances of Nawroz — a festival with ancient Zoroastrian roots that celebrates the arrival of spring — to be un-Islamic and prohibited its celebration. On Thursday, authorities blocked access to the Sakhi Shrine in Kabul, a prominent site for the traditional “raising of the Nawroz banner” ceremony.
Several Afghan political leaders in exile used the occasion to send messages of resistance and hope, calling for the fall of the Taliban and the return of a democratic system.
Former Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum, now living abroad, said in a Nawroz message that “the patience of the people has run out,” emphasizing that national and international efforts to end Taliban rule continue.
“We will overcome these hardships,” he said, “and bring about a broad-based national government grounded in freedom and inclusivity.”
Amrullah Saleh, another former vice president and a vocal opponent of the Taliban, declared that his priority in the new year would be the movement’s overthrow.
“Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan will never attain dignity, national unity or economic stability,” Mr. Saleh said. “We must not only hope for a post-Taliban future, we must prepare for it.”
The Jamiat-e Islami party, led by Salahuddin Rabbani, condemned the Taliban’s crackdown on Nawroz, accusing the group of turning “a moment of joy into a tool of repression.”
Ahmad Massoud, leader of the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front, echoed similar sentiments. “Despite the most difficult circumstances, the hope for the spring of freedom lives on,” he said in a message. “We vow to bring back Nawroz not just to our calendar, but to the soul of our homeland.”
Sarwar Danish, former vice president and current leader of the Justice and Freedom Party, described the country as being in “one of the darkest periods in its history,” expressing hope that the new year would bring about “justice and freedom.”
Though banned by the Taliban, Nawroz remains a deeply rooted part of Afghanistan’s cultural identity. Some citizens have continued to mark the day in private, preserving what they describe as traditions that are not in conflict with Islamic values.
“Nawroz is not just a celebration — it’s a part of our cultural, historical and national identity,” said a resident of Kabul. “It’s a time for peace, unity and gratitude for God’s blessings.”
In Badghis Province, a woman named Marzia said her family held a modest gathering despite economic hardship and the government’s restrictions. “We made haft mewa, cleaned the house, and prepared samanak with a few family members,” she said. “It’s our tradition — we want to keep it alive.”
Since returning to power, the Taliban have erased Nawroz as a national holiday from the official calendar and banned traditional festivities like the “Red Flower Festival” and the raising of ceremonial banners. These measures are enforced under the group’s religious morality regulations.
This stands in contrast to the international recognition of Nawroz. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 21 as International Nawroz Day, acknowledging the celebration’s significance across numerous cultures.
Yet in Afghanistan, what was once a vibrant national holiday has become a symbol of cultural resistance — celebrated not in public squares, but behind closed doors, in quiet defiance.
