PESHAWAR: Poets and folk artists celebrated ancient festival Nauroz with great fervour and zeal here on Tuesday by holding different events and sharing greetings and good wishes with relatives, friends and guests.

Also, Afghan community residing in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including various areas of Peshawar celebrated the festival heralding the New Year following solar calendar and advent of first day of the spring season.

A special dish of the festival called ‘Haftmewa’ a composition of seven different fruits was shared to mark the propitious occasion, poets and artists sang poems and songs versifying feelings and emotions of the people and praying for lasting peace, mutual love and humanism on the Afghan soil. Poetry recitals were arranged while folk artists conducted musical concerts to mark the festival.

A Pashto poetry recitation session was arranged in Afghan Colony at the hall of Darul Qarar Library with young poet Yasir Ali Shah Bacha in the chair and Zalan Momand as chief guest. Around 25 poets both local and Afghans participated in the event. Poets presented their poems filled with images of the festival and its impact on people.

Poetry session and music concert held to welcome spring

Yasir Ali Shah Bacha said on the occasion that among numerous things, Afghan immigrants brought the most charming festival of Nauroz and it earned widespread popularity among the locals owing to its lovely traditions.

“Such events help to strengthen social and cultural bonds between communities and promote mutual love and regards for building cordial relations. Every year, Jashn-i-Nauroz brought us closer to feel the smell and fragrance of the spring together to anew our social pledges for a happier society,” he said.

He read out some selected verses from the poetry of Khushal Khan Khattak and other classical poets. He also recited one of his own beautiful Pashto poems that added colour to the event.

Abid Ghazi, an Afghan poet, said that most Afghan living in KP shared their greetings and goodwill on social media while those living in the city served Haftmewa with guests, relatives and families.

Local poets Amin Ghafar, Bahar Ali and Kamran Momand presented poems and received appreciation from the audience.

Zalan Momand said on the occasion that Pashtuns land had been home to great cultural traditions and Nauroz being one the oldest festivals could play a significant role in restoration of peace. He said that such events should be held on every level.

Neemroz Qais, Ehsandulhaq Darman, Farooq Afridi and Wajid Ghazi Stankinzai also recited poems at the event.

Rashid Ahmad Khan, the chief of Hunari Tolana, told this scribe that Afghan artists staying in Peshawar gathered to mark the festival and arranged a musical concert in Takar Studio. Senior and junior folk singers sang popular numbers to welcome arrival of the spring and New Year.

In Kurram, the New Year was celebrated in district Parachinar with zeal and fervour.

The main event of Nauroz was held at Ziarat of Hazrat Ali in which thousands of people participated in the flag hoisting ceremony. Special prayers were offered for the country and the nation on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2023