Jam-packed Kabul bazaars before Nawroz show Afghans optimism

KABUL (Pajhwok): With the Nawroz festival nearing, the hustle and bustle in central capital Kabul shows the Afghans are more optimistic than previously about peace in their country, Pajhwok observed on Tuesday.

Pajhwok reporters talked to residents and shop owners in Kabul about their preparations for the new solar year and their response shows they are upbeat about peace in the new year that begins on March 21.

Saleh Mohammad, who was busy buying dried fruits from a shop in Mandavi area of Kabul, told Pajhwok that he had recently been engaged and wanted to buy some dried fruits for his fiancée for Nawroz.

Happy about the approaching Nawroz festival, he said the Afghans were hopeful the new year would bring along lasting peace in the country.

He said the hustle and bustle in Kabul ahead of the festival showed they were determined to celebrate the festivities more eagerly. “Nawroz and Eid are the occasions that bring together relatives to enjoy their time together happily.”

Shakeela, 42, a resident of Chehal Saton area, was waiting for her turn to buy fish from a shop, told Pajhwok that she was going to engage her third son and was in the market to buy something for her son’s would-be fiancée on the occasion of Narwoz.

She said the conflict in the country had deprived the Afghans of happiness but thanks to Nawroz that brought happiness to people. “On this occasion, families of boys buy gifts for their fiancées and this is the happiest moments in their lives.”

Calling the ongoing peace talks as hope-giving, she said the Afghans this time were optimistic about peace than ever before and they did not want the upcoming year to be a bloody one like the previous years.

Khalid Rassouli, who sells fish in Nadar Pashtunkot area, said over the past one week or so, he was witnessing big crowds of people in most parts of the city compared to the previous years before Nawroz, particularly fish shops were jam-packed.

“Despite their deteriorated economic situation, more than 100 people daily visit my shop to buy fish, which is a must on Nawroz.”

He said he had never seen such huge crowds ahead of the new year in the past and the reason might be their optimism about peace in the new year.

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