Unique New Year Festival in Mazar-e Sharif

March 21, 2009 (Quqnoos): This year’s Nowroz atmosphere in Mazar-e Sharif has been vastly different to the previous celebrations.

Joint festivity with neighbors, exclusively Iran and Tajikistan, the two countries sharing similar culture and language sparks a hope for repositioning cultural entity.

Based on the previous arrangements, Iran’s Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki and Tajikistan's Foreign Minister Hamrakhan Zarifi attended the fabulous celebration in Mazar-e Sharif.

Days before the arrival of New Year, thousands from across the country passed long journeys to witness the festival in the shrine of Islam forth Caliph Hazrat-e Ali.

Minster of Information and Culture, Abdul Karim Khuram, in the ceremony on Saturday morning, recited a message from President Karzai wishing citizens a prosperous and peaceful year ahead.

In a part of the written message, President Karzai called last year “challenging merged with insecurities”, but he hoped the New Year would be a new page for the country and lead towards prosperity.

A remarkable number of women appeared in the shrine for celebration which has given a different impression of the festival.