Afghanistan Culture Essay

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Afghanistan is a country with many different ethnic groups and a population of 31 million people, making it the 42nd most populous country in the world. It is neighbors with Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. From once being a home of Alexander the Great, to the modern day, their arts, holidays and recreational activities have changed drastically. These cultural influences will be explained through a modern day view. In the midst of war and terrorism, people have found art as a way to share their opinions and ideas on the world around them. A popular street artist, Shamsia Hassani, uses her talents to show the worlds problems. She works in the country’s complex and conflicted capital she does not like war but loves art. She says, “I want to colour over the bad memories of war on the walls and if I colour over these bad memories, then I erase [war] from people’s minds. I want to make Afghanistan famous because of its art, not its war.” Art has spanned over centuries. One of the most famous types of art is called Greco-Buddhist art. It is the manifestation of Greco-Buddhism, which is a combination of Classical Greek culture and Buddhism. This art form and others were tradition done by men, but have recently women have been entering art programs at Kabul University. The Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan in Kabul provides young people an opportunity to learn contemporary painting. There are many holidays that are unique to Afghanistan. New Year for them is in the spring March 20 or 21. The national Now Ruz festival marks the first day of spring, also considered the beginning of the New Year. This celebration has been celebrated over the ages. It comes from Zoroastrianism, the religion that was practiced widely in the Middle East before the rise of Islam. The most important national holiday is Independence Day. Not only do people
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