|
The Islamic State of Afghanistan
covering a geographical area of 648,000
sq. km. is a landlocked country comprising
mostly of mountains and desert. Afghanistan
experiences a dry weather with cold
winters and hot summers. The Islamic
State of Afghanistan lies in southwest
Asia, bordered by Iran, Pakistan,
republics of the former Soviet Union,
and China.
The people of the Islamic State of
Afghanistan comprise mainly of Sunni
Muslims (84%), Shia Muslim (15%),
and 1% others. Majority of the population
of Afghanistan speak Dari (Afghan
Persian) while others speak Pashto
but both the languages are officially
recognized. The Islamic State of Afghanistan's
economy is marked by a GDP growth
rate of $3 billion(according to 1991
census) and the country's natural
resources include Natural gas, oil,
coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites,
sulfur, lead, zinc, iron, salt, precious
and semiprecious stones.
Historically, Afghanistan has always
served as the gateway to Central Asia
and has, thus, earned the name crossroads
of Central Asia. The history of Afghanistan
shows that the country has been repeatedly
invaded by foreigners. It began in
328 B.C with Alexander the Great,
followed by the White Huns, the Turks,
the Arabs, the Persians, the Mongols
and finally the British. Modern Afghanistan
was born with the signing of the Treaty
of Rawalpindi, between the British
and Amanullah on August 19, 1919.
The country celebrates its Independence
Day on 19 August.
In Afghanistan, both the dominant
religious groups acknowledge the sovereignty
of Koran notwithstanding their different
associations. Religious life of the
people of Afghanistan is marked by
an important form of religious culture
- Sufism, which is an expression of
the Islamic mystical trend and lays
stress on the allegiance to be paid
to a religious statute. People are
found to have sufficient faith on
supernatural creatures. Religious
life of Afghanis revolves around assembling
at the mosque on Friday noon. Most
villages also possess a prayer hall
which serves as the resting place
for travelers. Shrines are the graves
of renowned religious heads. Shrines
influence the life of the villagers
in a huge manner. The principal festivals
of Afghanistan include -
- Eid al-Fitr
- Eid al-Adha
- Now-Roz (New Year's Day)
- Mawlud-un Nabi
- Lailat-ul Qadr
- Muharram
- Ashura-Tenth of Moharram
|
