Thursday, June 27, 2019
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Afghanistan, was subject to Persian Magian rule…Badakhshan, the northern provinces, Juzjan, etc. all the way to Takhar and Herat. Khurasan was part of the Persian empire, and Bukhara and Samarqand were all part of the Persian empire. How did ‘Uthman conquer it?
None of the populations that were conquered by the Muslims ever rebelled or resisted them except the people of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are very stubborn, and it is not an easy task to make them submit. So, the Muslims conquered it during the era of ‘Umar, and this was followed by a rebellion from some of the tribes and the expulsion of the Muslims, and the Muslims had to return later on and conquer Afghanistan a second time.
If the Afghans become convinced of an idea or belief, they are known to cling to it very tightly and spread it. This is why they carried the religion of Buddhism and the people of Afghanistan adopted it. There was no way to change them – Buddhism, that was it, and this is why there is a huge statue of Buddha still standing in Bamyan today.* They are the ones who spread Buddhism in the region – to Pakistan and India. The Afghans are the ones who spread it…some tribes became convinced of this belief and began spreading Buddhism.
Islam then came, they became convinced of Islam, and they spread it throughout the region. So, most of these areas adopted Islam through them, and Mahmud al-Ghaznawi invaded India seven times. He entered it and demolished their statue, Shamnama, and after this, the Afghan people adopted the Hanafi madhhab…”
Friday, September 24, 2010
Afghanistan = "The Land of Afghans"
- Population:
32,738,376 (July 2008 est.) - Official Languages:
Pashtu, Dari - Religion:
Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, Other (Hindu, Christian) 1% - Ethnic Groups:Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
- Currency:Afghani (1 Afghani (AF) = 100 puls)
- Independence:19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
- Total Area:647,500 sq km (250,000 sq. miles)
- Environment - International Agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation - GDP:$21.5 billion (2006 est.)
- GDP - Composition:
Agriculture: 38%
Industry: 24%
Services: 38%
Note: data exclude opium production (2005 est.)
Arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers.
Mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest.
Earthquakes; soil degradation, desertification, overgrazing, deforestation, war pollution.
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural Gas, Petroleum, Coal, Copper, Chromite, Talc, barites, Sulfur, Lead, Zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones.
Limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution
Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamiyan, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Juzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e-Pul, Takhar, Wardak, Zabul
Monday, March 29, 2010
In Afghanistan, Nowroz festival is traditionally celebrated for 2 weeks. Preparations for Nowroz start several days beforehand, at least after Chaharshanbe Suri, the last Wednesday before the New Year. Among various traditions and customs, the most important ones are:
Haft Mēwa: In Afghanistan, they prepare Haft Mēwa (Seven Fruits) instead of Haft Sin which is common in Iran. Haft Mewa is like a Fruit salad made from 7 different Dried fruits, served in their own syrup. The 7 dried fruits are: Raisin, Senjed (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), Pistachio, Hazelnut, Prune (dry fruit of Apricot), Walnut and whether Almond or another species of Plum fruit.
Samanak: It is a special type of sweet dish made from Wheat germ. Women take a special party for it during the night, and cook it from late in the evening till the daylight, singing a special song: Samanak dar Josh o mā Kafcha zanem - Degarān dar Khwāb o mā Dafcha zanem
Mēla-e Gul-e Surkh (Persian: ميلهى گل سرخ): The Guli Surkh festival which literally means Red Flower Festival (referring to the red Tulip flowers) is an old festival celebrated only in Mazari Sharif during the first 40 days of the year when the Tulip flowers grow. People travel from different parts of the country to Mazar in order to attend the festival. It is celebrated along with the Jahenda Bālā ceremony which is a specific religious ceremony performed in the holy blue mosque of Mazar that is believed (mostly by Sunnite Afghans) to be the site of the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph of Islam. The ceremony is performed by raising a special banner (whose color configuration resembles Derafsh Kaviani) in the blue mosque in the first day of year (i.e. Nowroz). This is the biggest recorded Nowroz gathering where up to 200,000 people from all over Afghanistan get together in Mazar central park around blue mosque to celebrate the banner raising (Jahenda Bālā ) ceremony. The Guli Surkh party continues with other special activities among people in the Tulip fields and around the blue mosque for 40 days.
Buzkashi: Along with other customs and celebrations, normally a Buzkashi tournament is held. The Buzkashi matches take place in northern cities of Afghanistan and in Kabul.
Special cuisines: People cook special types of dishes for Nowroz, especially on the eve of Nowroz. Normally they cook Sabzi Chalaw, a dish made from rice and spinach, separately. Moreover, the bakeries prepare a special type of cookie, called Kulcha-e Nowrozī, which is only baked for Nowroz. Another dish which is prepared mostly for the Nowroz days is Māhī wa Jelabī (Fried Fish and Jelabi) and it is the most often meal in picnics. In Afghanistan, it is a common custom among the affianced families that the fiancé's family give presents to or prepare special dishes for the fiancée's family on special occasions such as in the two Eids, Barā'at and in Nowroz. Hence, the special dish for Nowroz is Māhī wa Jelabī.
Sightseeing to Cercis fields: The citizens of Kabul go to Istalif, Charikar or other green places around where the Cercis flowers grow. They go for picnic with their families during the first 2 weeks of New Year. Jashni Dehqān: Jashni Dehqan means The Festival of Farmers. It is celebrated in the first day of year, in which the farmers walk in the cities as a sign of encouragement for the agricultural productions. In recent years, this activity is being performed only in Kabul and other major cities, in which the mayor and other high governmental personalities participate for watching and observing.
Monday, March 8, 2010
TERMINOLOGYPASHTUN - people of southern area of Afghanistan
TAJIK - Asiatic people in the north
TURKOMEN - people of the northwest
LOGARI - type of dance from Logar valley
SHAUQI - amateur musician, dancer; unpaid hobbyist
SAMOWAR - tea house where musicians meet and play
KESPI - professional (musician or other)
REBAB - skin-covered stringed instrument native of Afghanistan
TAMBUR - long necked stringed instrument
ZERBAGHALI - single headed clay goblet drum
DHOL - double headed wooden barrel drum
ATAN - national circle dance of Afghanistan
DOIRA - round frame drum
KHAGHAZBADBAZI - kite dance
CHOPBAZI - stick dance
NAZ - flirtatious or coy attitude
MAIDA - tiny shuffling footwork
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Historically the bride and grooms palms were cut in little insertion so that they could be joined in blood, as time passed they replaced it with Hena so it would be more healthy and lest messy. At this moment a girl dressed in traditional Afghani clothes will come though the door with a silver tray with candles and assorts of beautiful fresh flowers with little containers of “hena” dancing and turning all the way to the throne of Bride and groom. The Mother of the groom will place a teaspoon full of Hena onto the Brides palm and cover it with a triangular cloth made of very fine and shinny fabric. The Brides mother places the Hena on the pinkie figure of the groom and likewise covers it with the fabric. After hours of dancing they will announce that dinner is ready, all the guests will form a line and walk alongside of a beautifully decorated buffet where assorted of authentic Afghan meals are presented. From the Shohla e Goshtee to three different values of rice Called Palou and Chalou, there are many kinds of Kabobs; Kabob e Chopan, Chaplee Kabob, Teka Kabob, Shaami Kabob, also Mantu Aushak with authentic Afghan Bread will conclude the dinner table. For desert they will serve Firnee, Sheer Brenj, Jello, Baghalua with fruits of the season. After Desert is finished The Bride and groom will walk over to the 3 store cake and the musician will return from dinner and sing the traditional song of “Baada Baada Elahee Mubarak Baada - Man dil ba tu dada am Tawakol ba khoda” Meaning Congratulation I gave u my heart now I leave it to GOD as the bride and groom cut the cake and the member of the family will cut the cake into small pieces and serve the guests. Then comes the hours of enjoyment as the musicians plays fast beat songs and the dance floor fills up with people as the dance till the end of the ceremony which could go till dawn. At the end of ceremony “attan” is being performed, Attan is a traditional Afghan dance; its origin is the provinces to the south of Afghanistan where every celebration ended with this dance. The Beat is a traditional Afghan Beat of “mogholi” where no other Nation in the world uses this beat its a creation of Afghans of the Moghol dynasty. A huge circle is created and the performers will follow each other going round and round in a circle to the beat as the rhythm and beats faster the slower participants drop out remains the ones who can dance and move. There are three different kinds of attan in Afghanistan, “wardaki” “logari” and “khosti” Wardaki consists of body movements no clapping and lots of turns and twists. “logari” uses the clapping and the full turns in place as well as the main turn. “khosti” is interesting because of the head movements the head is snapped side to sides as their long jet black hair fling through the air. The Music is finished and the hosts along with bride and groom stand by the door to show their respect and thank the guests for coming to their wedding ceremony.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
The name Panjshir, literally meaning "Five Lions", refers to five Wali (literally, protectors), highly spiritual brothers who were centered in the valley. Local legend has it that the five brothers built a dam for Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (سلطان محمود غزنوی) in the early 11th century AD. The foundations serve today for a modern reservoir.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
The main crops are wheat, barley, mushung, and baquli, which are grown in the spring. When crops were affected by unusually harsh weather, the people usually led their livestock down to Ghazni and Maidan Provinces to exchange for food. The city of Bamyan was part of the Buddhist Kushan Empire in the early centuries of the Christian era. After the Kushan Empire fell to the Sassanids, Bamyan became part of the Kushansha vassals to the Sassanids. The Hephthalites conquered Bamyan in the 5th century. After their Khanate was destroyed by the Sassanids and Turks in 565, Bamyan became the capital of a small Kushano-Hephthalite kingdom that lasted until it was conquered by the Saffarids in 870. The area was conquered by the Ghaznavids in the 11th century. For decades, Bamyan has been the centre of fighting between zealous Muslim Taliban forces and the anti-Taliban alliance – mainly Hizb-i-Wahdat – preceded by the clashes between the warlords of the local militia.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Since the 1920s, Afghanistan's leaders, in an effort to maintain control of both human and natural resources, have struggled with the definition of women's rights and independence as exemplified in the propriety of dress. Afghan dress also reflects other aspects of identity in a variety of inseparable yet interrelated ways: gendered and generational status; religious affiliation; rural and urban differences; stages of the life cycle; and everyday or special occasions. Afghan dress first and foremost distinguishes gender. Men wear tombaan, an overshirt (payraan), a hat or cap (kullaa), and footwear or boots. In addition to this basic ensemble, Afghan men wear a vest (waaskaat), another hat (pokool), and a shawl (shaal) during colder seasons.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
After the fall of Taliban in 2001, following resurgence of Northern Alliance and now under the command of Hamid Karzi Afghanistan has started to move towards prosperity - however, very slow and gradually. Just months before the new government, women couldn’t dare to come out without Burqa or even they sat at home the whole 12 months of year; whereas, now the same Afghan women not only walk on the streets of Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif but also drive cars.
People start sending their daughters to schools, colleges and universities - which was impossible in the Taliban regime. Men started living freely - no more obligations to put on beard and wearing turban. Today many Afghan women go to work. They go to universities as student and lecturers. They are almost involved in all fields. But to what extent they fulfil their responsibilities towards their country – a county which has just came out of the civil war and overcame terrorism -, less people know. There are questions to be answered. The question which a colleague asked me just few days ago was why don’t we study or find a job instead of spending 6 hours on makeup and choosing clothing style? It could be asked from many other women too. Many girls in Kabul have very soon adjusted the new western styles of cloths and makeup. On the other hand, the other question that should be asked is what percentage of women is free to get education or work? Very few! There are still cities and villages where women are not authorised to come out of home. Of course, not because The Taliban would kill them, but because the “nonsense and irrational” old traditional mentality will be damaged.
The percentage of women who had some access to education and job are more successful today whereas the ones left behind the closed doors are regressed.
One of the well known saying ‘Today’s Daughter, Tomorrow’s Mother’ might remind us how important it is to concentrate on the education and success of women in general and particularly an Afghan woman. Leaving you with a thought of what can those meaningless traditions have given so far or what they will give us in the future, I ask all Afghan women to move forward in all possible fields and carry out their responsibilities towards their country.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
THE NORTHERN PLAINS: This region of Afghanistan covers about 40,000 square miles of extremely fertile foothills and plains. The Amu River (formerly known as the Oxus) runs through the edge of the foothills. The average elevation is about 2,000 feet. A tremendous amount of the country's agriculture thrives here. This region also possesses a vast amount of mineral deposits and natural gas.