Afghan Cultural Ceremonies and Traditions
[ Barat | Eid | Funeral | Jashan | Mahram | Nawroaz | Tawalud | Wedding ]
Wedding
|
+- Stages of the Wedding Process
|
+- Khush Kardan (Selection of Bride)
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+- Talab Gari -- Maraka
|
+- Lavs Dadan -- Sten-o-tar
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+- Shernee Dadan -- Sten-o-tar
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+- Shernee Khoorey wa Nekah -- Desmal
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+- Arosee -- Wada
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+- Shab-e-Henah -- The Nuqrozo Shpa
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+- Shab-e-Arosey -- The Wada Shpa
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+- Rooz-e-say (Takht-jamey) -- Dreyema
Funeral
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+- Stages of Funeral
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+- Tajheez wa Takfeen -- Ghusal aw Kafan
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+- Namaz-e-Jenaza -- The Jenazay-Lmonz
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+- Isqat -- Isqat
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+- Dafan -- Shakhawul
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+- Fateha -- Pata
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+- Rooze-e-Dowam wa Soyom -- Dowahama ow Dreyema
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+- Shab-ha-e-Juma -- The Jumay Shpa
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+- Rooz-e-Haftam -- Oowama
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+- Chelum -- Chalwaishti
|
+- Saal -- Kaal
Eid
|
+- Eid-ul-Feter (Eid of end of Ramazan) ** Kuchnay Akhtar
| |
| +- Moon sighting -- Shahadat of sighting -- End of Ramazan.
| | After Royat (moon sighting) Eid is announced by cannon
| | shots. ** Miasht
| |
| +- Eid Day Brunch ( this is only day of the year that Afghans
| | eat brunch.) ** The Akhtar Naray [The Akhtar Naray kayee]
| |
| +- Eid Mubaraki starts after Brunch on first day of Eid **
| | ** Akhtar Mubaraki
| |
| +- Festival of Namaz-e-Eid, Gathering in Eidgah (where people
| | celebrate Eid and say Eid prayers) ** Edgah, ow the Edgah Mela
| |
| +- Mela-e-Eid -- Games and celebration in local parks for three
| days and nights. This includes Tukham Jangi, Saq Jangai,
| Shutur Jangai, Qushti-Geraftan (wrestling), Gudi Paran Bazi,
| sale of exotic sweets for kids (Halway-e-Pashmak, Nuqul, Jilabi,
| Falooda). Also Naiza Bazi is common pass time during Eid.
| ** The Akhtar Melay
|
+- Eid-ul-adha (Eid-e-Qurban) Eid of Haj and Qurbani ** Loy Akhtar
|
+- Namaz-e-Eid in Eidgah ** The Akhtar Lmonz
|
+- 21 gun salute for the arrival of Eid ** The Akhtar Topoona
|
+- Similar fesitival as Eid-ul-Feter
|
+- Qurbani ** Akhtarai
|
+- Ethnic and Cultural Variations [To be added]
Nawroaz (New Years Day - For Solar Calendar, 21st March)
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+- Most Ancient Festival in Afghan Culture
|
+- Highlights:
|
+- In Mazar
| |
| +- The raising of Janda-e-Sakhi
| |
| +- Mela-e-Gul-e-Surkh
| |
| +- Buz-Kashi
|
+- In Kabul
| |
| +- Raising of the Toogh-e-Mandaee, sign of wealth and
| hope for the new year (Toogh = Flag)
|
+- In Qandahar
| |
| +- Wrestling, Naiza Bazi, ** Ghaizh, Neshan Weshtal
|
+- In Afghanistan in General
| |
| +- Rooz-e-Dehqan, accompaned by agricultural shows
| |
| +- Jashn-e-Nehal Shani, planting of trees
|
+- Food Specials During Nawrooz
| |
| +- Kulcha-e-Nawroozi
| |
| +- Maewa-e-Tarkarda (7 nuts in sweetened water)
| |
| +- Sabzi chalaw (Spinach and Rice) on new year's eve.
|
+- Special Outdoor Activities
|
+- Sabza Laqhat Kardan -- Families go to the fields and
farms and spend the day picnicking
Shab-e-Barat ** The Barat Shpa **
|
+- In Afghan culture this is the night when the "Rezq-o-
| roozi" is assigned by God.
|
+- Celebrated with fire works
|
+- Some people eat "Shakar" with Rice -- symbolic of their
"rezq" for the rest of the year.Rooz-e-Maharam
Rooz-e-Mahram
|
+-
";Jashan-e-Isteqlaal
Jashan-e-Isteqlaal
|
+- Celebration of the "Isterdate-e-Isteqlal-e-Afghanistan"
| On this day Afghanistan "regained" its independence.
|
+- Date: 6th Jowza, 1298 (27th May 1919)
|
+- King Amanullah procalimed the independence of Afghanistan
| on 13th April 1919 (24 Hamal 1298).
|
+- On 4th May 1919 the third Afghan-British war began and lasted
| until 28th May. On 27th May an Afghan offensive in Tal-o-Wana
| prompted the Britishers to respect Afghanistan's 13th April
| declaration of independence.
|
+- Finally the Afghan-British peace accord was signed on 18th
| August 1919.
|
+- Ceremonies for Jashan-e-Isteqlaal
|
+- Held from the first day of the month of Sunbula
| 21st August.
|
+- Celebration lasted 7 days in the capital and 3 days in
| provincial capitals.
|
+- Celebration began by putting a flower bouquet on the
| monument of Independence. ( This is done by the head of
| of the state).
|
+- This was followed by an impressive military parade which
| includs, army and airforce and artilary.
|
+- On the 2nd day there was a student parade.
|
+- Agricultural, industrial exhibitions were held during
| these seven days.
|
+- High ranking scholarly and cultural meetings were being
| held in which scholars from all over the world were
| invited.
|
+- Sport competitions with neighbouring and international
| teams were held in Chaman-e-Hozorie and Ghazi Stadium in
| Kabul.
|
+- Music groups from Afghanistan, and its regional neigbours
| including Former Soviet Union, Iran, Pakistan, China, India
| and Turkey and sometimes United States and European countries
| came to Kabul.
|
+- National Folk dance shows(Atan-e-Milli) with all its variations
| were performed in Chaman-e-Huzoori and Ghazi Stadium in Kabul.
|
+- In Kabul, Manteqa-e-Jashan (Chaman-e-Huzoori, Jadae-e-Maiwand,
| the main government buildings) were illuminated with millions
| of colorful light bulbs. ( Major Highlight of Jashan)
|
+- Buz-Kashi and other local sports were also being held during
| this seven days.
|
+- Atesh Bazi (fire works) were held all seven nights in Kabul.
| In Kabul Atesh Bazi was very impressive.
|
+- Special publications, newspapers, magazines, books were
| published to commemorate this occasions.
|
+- All military promotions were announced on this day.
|
+- The same programs were held in provincial capitals for
three days.Tawalud (Birth)
Tawalud (Birth)
|
+- Aazan in the ear upon birth
|
+- Birth of Son ( Celebrated for the continuance of
| family name )
|
+- Slaughter a sheep (this is called A-qeeq)
|
+- Naam-guzari (Naming Ceremony)
|
+- Shab-e-Shash (sixth night celebration)
|
+- Chela-Guraez
|
+- Chela- Guraez is a party thrown for a woman after 40 days
of a child birth.
Khat-Nasoori (Male Circumcision)
|
+- Male circumcision before the age of 7, accompanied by
festivity and music.
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