KABUL — As Eid al-Adha approaches, many Afghans say the holiday has lost its spirit amid mounting economic pressure and restrictive social policies under Taliban rule.
Across the country’s major cities, markets that once bustled with shoppers now bear signs of stagnation. Shopkeepers and residents describe this year’s Eid season as the quietest in years, marked by declining consumer power, rising prices, and a deepening sense of disillusionment.
“There’s no excitement anymore,” said Mirois, a vendor in western Kabul. “Prices are down, but so are people’s incomes. Even with discounts, customers are few and far between.”
Shoppers interviewed by Amu said they were limiting their purchases to basic necessities, foregoing traditional items like new clothes, sweets and decorations that usually define the celebration. Many cited unemployment and the steep rise in daily living costs as reasons for their scaled-back festivities.
“We’ve stopped thinking about new clothes or gifts,” said one Kabul resident. “We just want to put food on the table for Eid.”
For Afghan women, the holiday arrives under even greater constraints. Many say restrictions on work, mobility and public participation have sharply limited their role in what was once a festive occasion for families and communities.
“Eid used to be a time of joy and freedom,” said Balqis, a Kabul resident. “Now it just reminds us how isolated we are.”
Under Taliban rule, social and economic conditions have deteriorated for millions of Afghans. The United Nations estimates that more than 23 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with unemployment and poverty at critical levels.
In the past, the lead-up to Eid would fill Afghan streets with energy — markets lit up, families shopping together, children buzzing with excitement. This year, Kabul’s marketplaces remain subdued, and faces once filled with anticipation now reflect quiet resignation.
As one merchant put it: “There’s no Eid when there’s no hope.”
