What Afgans Love To Do:
Picnics: Before the wars, Afghans spent their weekends with family and friends
going to public parks or to the countryside to enjoy their beautiful surroundings
and have picnics. People would travel for hours to enjoy lush and green places
such as the Jalalabad gardens or closer to Kabul, the Paghman parks.
Kites: One favorite pastime is kite making and flying. Kite flying is an art and
sport at the same time. Kite makers take pride in creating kites that can reach
up to 5 feet in size. The line attached to the kite is covered with glue and a fine
powder of ground glass. As the challengers engage their kites up high in the
sky, the goal becomes to cross lines and cut off the opponent’s kite with a sawing
motion. Children love this game as they often chase the falling kite, which
they get to keep. Talibans forbid kite making or flying during their rule–some
children have been executed as a result.
Music: Afghans adore music and playing at weddings, outdoors, or whenever
they can. The harsh ban on music by the Taliban could lead to death if not
respected. Afghan musicians were jailed and music tapes were destroyed.
Now that the Taliban no longer rule, music, folk dances and celebrations take
place as before.
Food: Afghan food is healthy and delicious. Vegetable dishes, rice, meat stews
or kabobs and fresh bread, “nan,” are all part of the menu. Cardamom tea is
always served along with a refreshing yogurt drink called “doogh” on hot days.
Desserts such as fresh or dried fruits, nuts, sugar covered almonds, “nokhol,” or
chick peas are nibbled on before a meal or with tea.
Pastimes: Afghans like storytelling, dancing and children’s games such as
marbles. The also enjoy the national game of Buzkashi, a harsh and fast
wrestling sport played on horseback and dating back to the thirteenth century.
Other sports big in Afganistan are soccer, boxing, volleyball and basketball.
Outdoor activities, family time and picnics are very important as well.
This Literature to Life® presentation of THE KITE RUNNER is made by special arrangement with The American Place Theatre.