President in attendance as Flag-hoisting ceremony held in Mazar-i-Sharif

MAZAR-i-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The traditional flag-hoisting (Janda Bala) ceremony, marking the new solar year, was held in Mazar-i-Sharif, the centre of Nawroz festivities, on Friday.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Deputy Chief Executive Eng. Mohammad Khan, Senate Chairman Fazal Hadi Muslimyar, Ulema Council Head Mulvi Qeyamuddin Khashaf and others were in attendance the Hazrat Ali Shrine in the capital of Balkh province.

Nawroz celebrations date back to more than 3,000 years and the occasion is also marked in other countries such as Iran, Turkey, India, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkm­en­istan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

On Nawroz, Afghans wear new clothes and exchange gifts. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly formally recognised the International Day of Nawroz.

Thousands of men, women, children also gathered at the south and northern part of the Hazrat Ali Shrine to attend the event.

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