According to archaeological facts, the territory to the south of Oxus River was dwelled by large
group of people for at least five thousand years. These people are known to be the first settlers
who formed communities and established the world's oldest city, the city of Balkh. They lived in
fortified walled city with booming social life, customs and traditions. Their primary occupation
was agriculture and raising cattle. This specific region has a very distinct four seasons. Spring,
summer, fall and winter. The spring, after a harsh three months of winter, was a welcome sign
and a period of becoming active in agriculture and other aspect of life. Therefore, our forefathers
were celebrating the advent of Spring as a symbol of rebirth and relief from harshness of
winter.
The coming of Zoroaster added new dimensions to this already old tradition. According to
religious sources, Zoroaster was born in spring when snow thawed, rains came, waters flowed,
trees blossomed and plants grew. So the ancient Nawrooz tradition also coincides with the birth
of our great prophet. Zardusht or Zoroaster was a Tajik and the son of the same people who have
been celebrating the new year for a long time. Zoroaster was born within the confined city of
Balkh. His teaching, many historians believe, had direct or indirect influences on the
development of three other religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Zoroaster was the
founder of this great monotheistic religion of the ancient world that became famous after his
name Zardushti or Zoroastrian.
In Zoroastrian everything that produced life, protected and enriched was regarded as good. Every
natural phenomenon that was beneficial to humans such as sun, earth, water, sky, animals, plants
were all good. So they would celebrate the coming of spring in such spirit of celebration and joy.
The Spring has always been regarded as a time of change and renewal, a time for resurgence of
life in the continuing cycle of end and rebirth.
Our people have celebrated Nawrooz for thousands of years. During this course of time these
celebrations were sometimes quite elaborate extending to days with numerous festivities and
sometime not so elaborate. However, these celebrations across centuries have more common
characteristics than differences. Nawrooz has always been a time for happiness, jubilation and
togetherness with families, relatives and the community. It is a time for music, dance, joy and
happiness.
Before the arrival of Nawrooz, people would make new clothes, thoroughly clean and rearrange
the house and make a kind of drink by putting different dried fruits in water for a few days. They
also germinate plants in special pots from wheat seed. This plant is used to make a dish called
Samanak. The preparation of this special dish needs some long hours and provide an opportunity
for some joyous moments where ladies spend time together cooking, singing and just being
happy. On the night of Nawrooz among many dishes, Sabzi Chalow (green vegetable and white
rice) is traditionally common.
Nawrooz is also a time of meeting relatives and other people and repairing and renewing broken
relationships. On Nawrooz people congratulate each other with words, Nawrooz-e-tan Mubarak
(happy Nawrooz) or Sal-e-Now-e-tan Mubarak (happy new year), shake hands and embrace each
other. Around the time of Nawrooz, families go to pay homage to their loved ones who are no
more among them and pray for them. They also go to shrines of religious people and each light a
candle, in a special little shelf dug in the wall, in their honor.
In the city of Balkh the Mayl-e-Gul-e-Surkh (Red Flower Picnic) is a major occasion for the
celebration of Nawrooz. During Nawrooz wild red Tulips that make the scenes quite irresistible
covering the northern plains of our country. People tend to spend time in nature and enjoy the
natural beauty of their city. Another amazing festivity of Nawrooz is the raising of the banner on
the supposed tomb of Ali, cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. On March 21, a banner
is raised on his tomb to announce the beginning of spring and coming of the New Year. The
location Ali's tomb in Balkh is subject to speculation and there is no proof that he is actually
buried there. On the contrary there are rumors that it was actually a Zoroastrian Temple or some
important place for Zoroastrians perhaps even the burial place of Zoroaster himself. So to avoid
its destruction in the hand of Arabs they passed it on as the tomb of Ali.
It is quite a subject of its own. To what extend it is true is yet to
be uncovered.
The advent of Islam and Arab occupation have deeply affected all facades of conquered
countries. Many nations succumbed to this Arab occupation and influences. In time these Arab
influences were so much that the occupied nations became Arabs and are now known as Arab
nations. Egypt, Syria and Iraq were not originally Arabs, but the nomads of Arabian deserts
totally destroyed their cultures and languages. Fortunately, our great resilient nation survived
the test of time and preserved their cherished customs and tradition. Otherwise, we would now
be another one in the "Arab" bunch. Nawrooz too was the subject of brutal Arab suppression
but has survived. We owe our identity, our culture and traditions to our resilient ancestors. It is
now our responsibility to preserve our tradition and pass it
onto our future generations.