Feature: Afghanistan celebrates Nawroz with prayers for lasting peace

Amid tight security, war-weary Afghans celebrated Nawroz or the New Year 1395 in the Persian calendar, on March 20 across the militancy-plagued nation, by praying for lasting peace.

The huge celebration saw the participation of thousands of people from all walks of life, and was held at the Mazar-e-Sakhi shrine in the northern Mazar-e-Sharif city where Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and other officials collectively prayed for an end to war and return to lasting peace in their homeland.

"I am congratulating the nation this New Year and wishing the year of 1395 will be a year of peace, unity and prosperity in Afghanistan," Abdullah said in his address to the audience.

Nawroz is a public holiday and Afghans throughout the country mark the day by holding meetings, recitations of the holy Quran, planting saplings and arranging entertainment programs including concerts, wrestling and the national sport Buzkashi (goat grabbing).

Private and state-run radio and television channels by airing a variety of entertainment programs, including stage shows, musicals, and screening serials and movies to mark Nawroz, also keep the citizens happy.

Nawroz is celebrated in Persian speaking countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan and also parts of Pakistan.

Last year, the year of 1394, was a challenging year for Afghanistan, as the country experienced a sharp increase in militancy, as security and the economy both deteriorated.

To escape insecurity, poverty and unemployment, more than 250,000 Afghans, according to the Afghan Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation Affairs, had left the country with the hope of settling in European countries, over the past year.

Speaking to the audience in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the governor of Balkh province, Atta Mohammad Noor, predicted more fighting in the new year, warning that Afghanistan would witness more conflicts in spring this year.

However, governor Noor pointed out, "We want peace and the Afghan people are praying to have lasting peace this year."

The Afghan government, in spite of hectic efforts backed by the international community, has failed to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table and help bring an end to the decades of violence and overall mayhem in the country.

"The protracted war has devoured whatever we had. We are fed up with the lingering conflict and today I am praying for the end of war and wishing to witness a return to lasting peace in Afghanistan this year," a taxi driver, Ahmad Nawed, 37, told Xinhua.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in his message on the eve of Nawroz promised that his government would spare no efforts to bring peace, economic development and prosperity to the country this year.

"My prayer to Almighty Allah is to end the fighting in Afghanistan this year and that all Afghans can live in a peaceful environment," Abdul Mubin, who lost his son in the conflict seven months ago in northern Baghlan province, told Xinhua. Endit