It is Nawroz tomorrow, the first day of the solar year 1993. Afghanistan, along with some other Asian nations, is ready to celebrate Nawroz or the New Day. Nawroz is celebrated widely in Afghanistan, particularly in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif. It is also known as Farmer's Day, the observances usually last two weeks, culminating on the first day of the Afghan New Year, March 21. Special Nawroz celebration, for which the government has been preparing for the past few months, will be held in Paghman, a town in hills located close to capital Kabul.
Nawroz corresponds to the beginning of the spring season and people welcome the new season after the cold winter ends in Afghanistan. Nawroz has been celebrated for the past 3,000 years and the UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Nowroz, describing it a spring festival of Persian origin. Nawroz is an event of happiness and the people of Afghanistan enjoy this day with family gatherings, special dishes, wearing new cloths and other customs. Undoubtedly, Nawroz gives the message of peace, prosperity and unity but during the last thirty years of conflict in Afghanistan, the people of this country have never been able to celebrate it with full spirit and true happiness. Every year of the past three decades has been a year of bloodshed, violence and destruction. Soviet invasion, civil war and Taliban took lives of thousands of Afghans and also their happiness and joy.
Today, Afghans still suffer. Insurgency is still not letting them to breathe freely, let alone celebrating events such as Nawroz without launching terror attacks. Afghans are preparing to celebrate their New Year at times when their country is facing grave security, political, social and economic challenges. The failure of government to bring about fundamental developments in security situation and other vital areas has caused the public concerns to rise amid the international troops’ plan to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. It is feared that withdrawal of NATO troops will put the 12-year gains of Afghanistan in democracy, civil society, human rights, media and other important areas at a great stake.
On the occasion of the New Year every Afghan will be wishing for long lasting peace and stability in his country. That is the dream of every individual living on this land. In about two weeks after Nawroz, Afghans will vote to elect their new president, hoping the new government would put an end to their sufferings.