By: Zubaida
The Purple Saturdays Movement members convened Saturday night in the provinces of Takhar and Balkh to celebrate Yalda Night, an ancient cultural event cherished throughout Afghanistan and its neighboring countries. The gatherings denounced the Taliban’s ban on the festivities, labeling it a blatant violation of cultural rights and freedoms and a rejection of Afghanistan’s national identity.
The Taliban’s prohibition of Shab-e-Yalda, also known as the Winter Solstice celebration, marks its third consecutive year. Participants described the ban as a deliberate campaign to erase cultural diversity and impose ideological conformity. They likened it to “cultural apartheid,” accusing the Taliban of systematically undermining traditions and silencing cultural expression.
“Banning Shab-e-Yalda is not only an attack on a national celebration, but also a calculated effort to extinguish our cultural heritage and weaken the bonds of national unity,” said a spokesperson for the Purple Saturdays Movement. “It erases our traditions and silences the voices of reason, joy, and cultural resilience.”
During their previous rule, the Taliban outlawed traditional festivals such as Yalda Night and Nowruz. The return of these restrictions underscores the regime’s continued ideological rigidity. Many Afghans now celebrate Yalda Night in secrecy, fearing reprisals from Taliban authorities.
The Movement also criticized the international community and the United Nations for what it called complicity through inaction. It accused global actors of normalizing the suppression of cultural freedoms. It warned that failing to address the Taliban’s policies could result in the extinction of Afghanistan’s rich cultural diversity, the erosion of national identity, and the forced exile of cultural elites.
“The cessation of these violations requires immediate and serious diplomatic, political, and economic interventions from the international community,” the statement emphasized. “Silence and inaction amount to a betrayal of universal human values.”
The gatherings highlighted the importance of unity, breaking traditional gender boundaries, and collective action to safeguard Afghanistan’s cultural rights. Participants declared that celebrating Yalda Night under the current circumstances is not merely a tradition but an act of resistance against Taliban ideology and a commitment to preserving cultural freedoms for future generations.
Shab-e-Yalda celebrated on the longest night of the year, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. It is traditionally marked by storytelling, poetry recitations, and sharing seasonal foods like pomegranates and nuts. In 2022, UNESCO inscribed Yalda Night as an Intangible Cultural Heritage shared by Afghanistan and Iran, recognizing its importance in promoting cultural unity and continuity.
The Movement’s gatherings remind Afghanistan citizens of their resilience in preserving their cultural identity in the face of repression.
