The traditional New Year celebration in Afghanistan is called Nowruz. The name is the common Persian form meaning “new day,” and the festival marks the beginning of the Solar Hijri year.
Afghan Nowruz customs vary by region and community. Celebrations can include preparing special foods, visiting relatives, wearing new clothes, decorating homes, and attending public festivities. In Mazar-i-Sharif, the Guli Surkh, or Red Flower, festival is a well-known regional observance associated with the blooming of red tulips.
English-language sources may use several spellings for the festival. Nauryz is common in Kazakhstan, Novruz is common in Azerbaijan, and Nawruz appears in some South and Central Asian contexts. These names are related forms, but Nowruz is the standard Persian name used for the Afghan celebration.