Traditions in Afghanistan

Afghan traditions do not form a single national system. Families, older relatives, neighbourhoods, craft communities and experienced masters (ustads) usually pass on customs and skills informally. The Ministry of Information and Culture, the Department of Folk Culture and the Office of Intangible Cultural Heritage document selected practices; the Research Museum of Ethnography of the Afghanistan Science Academy preserves clothing, jewellery, household objects and metalwork from different provinces and communities. There is no nationwide service with uniform access rules, fees or permits. The annual cycle includes the Persian spring new year (Nowruz or Nawrouz) around 21 March and the final autumn night marking the winter solstice (Yaldā or Chella). Yaldā is traditionally observed in the home of older relatives; lamps represent light and water purity, and red fruits such as pomegranates, watermelons, beetroot, jujube or grapes are served. Nowruz was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2024, while Yaldā/Chella had already been added in 2022. Celebrating Nowruz is prohibited under the applicable Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice; on 21 March 2026, warnings were issued again. A ban on Yaldā was announced on 24 December 2023 and was later incorporated into these regulations. Enforcement differs regionally; in Kabul, women were turned away from a shrine while men were admitted. Family customs shape kinship, social support, mediation and marriage arrangements. An engagement (namzadi) may precede an Islamic marriage contract (nikah). At marriage, the mutual declaration of intent to marry (ijab and qabul) and witnesses form part of the religiously influenced process. Under a 2021 decree, the positive consent of an adult woman is required, and the agreed bridal gift (mahr or mehr) belongs to the woman. Wedding-related demands (walwar, babeyri, toyana and khoshi), as well as additional demands for food or clothing, were prohibited by a 2025 decree. The same decree targets excessive mahr, expensive hotels and vehicles, mixed-gender celebrations, music, dancing and gunfire at weddings. Implementation remains locally varied. Forced and child marriages continue despite such provisions; the transfer of a girl or woman to settle a debt or dispute (baad) continues to be reported. Comparative reports cite 323 cases in 2024 and 746 in 2025; these figures are not estimates of nationwide prevalence. The mourning and condolence practice (ta'ziya) includes, under a decree, a three-day mourning period including burial. Neighbours and relatives are expected to support the bereaved household with food; a donation or charitable contribution is not mandatory. The choice of cemetery for a deceased woman follows local custom and may be oriented toward her husband or children; a forced transfer to the cemetery of the paternal family was rejected. Clothing connects regional and ethnic identity with everyday life and celebrations. Common items include the Shalwar Kameez (a traditional outfit), embroidered garments, different textiles, jewellery and head coverings. Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, Nuristani and Pashai communities use different forms and materials. Current regulations restrict public clothing and participation, especially for women and girls: outside the home, requirements apply to covering the body and face, while mahram accompaniment (mahram) and gender segregation may affect access to events. Men are subject to requirements concerning beards and Islamic appearance. Inherited clothing and current state restrictions must therefore be considered separately. A plucked string instrument (rubab or Rabab) made from mulberry wood is an established Afghan and regional musical tradition. Experienced teachers often pass on its construction and playing through practical instruction and within families. Rubab music is associated with weddings, celebrations, mourning ceremonies, gatherings and traditional healing; at the same time, the authorities impose restrictions on music at weddings, in the media and in vehicles, and arrests and corresponding instructions have been documented. A safe nationwide opportunity for public performances therefore cannot be assumed. Carpet weaving has high regional importance, among other places in Bamiyan, and connects family or workshop labour with income and local markets; documented projects often involve women and other vulnerable groups. Traditional silk production includes the chain from mulberry trees through silkworms and cocoons to reeling, spinning, dyeing and weaving. Silk textiles, carpets, runners and curtains may be used at weddings, mourning ceremonies and family gatherings. Miniature painting in the style of Behzad is passed on in private workshops, galleries, universities and public or private institutions through periods of apprenticeship and practical instruction; it also conveys stories, myths and values. Nuristani woodcarving has been weakened by displacement, conflict and the replacement of traditional materials and construction methods; many documented craftspeople now work in Kabul. Embroidery, textile art, jewellery and metalwork remain primarily regional, family-based or craft practices. Conflict, displacement, urbanisation, market changes and cheaper substitute materials make transmission more difficult. Restrictions on festivals, music, images and the public participation of women and girls also affect visibility and practice. UNESCO also points to difficult cultural conditions and natural disasters affecting preservation. Continuity is therefore especially visible in households, local communities and workshops. The information on state regulations and public access reflects the situation as of 4 September 2026.