Shafaqna English– Today marks World Hazara Culture Day; a day celebrated by Hazara Shia communities from Afghanistan around the world through various festivities, cultural, and artistic programs.
According to Shafaqna Afghanistan News Agency, this year as well, different cultural and artistic celebrations are set to take place in cities across the world—from Quetta, Pakistan to various cities in Australia, the United States, and European countries.
For instance, Hazaras residing in the UK and Germany commemorated the day two days in advance in the cities of Birmingham and Berlin through diverse cultural programs featuring artists, intellectuals, scholars, and researchers from the Hazara community.
On World Hazara Culture Day, Hazaras of Afghanistan around the globe aim to introduce the world to the richness and diversity of their literature, history, art, handicrafts, cuisine, traditions, and way of life.
They seek to achieve this goal through celebrations that include Hazara music—especially the Dambura (a traditional instrument), traditional Hazara clothing, Hazara cuisine, and speeches on Hazara history and culture.
May 19 was first officially recognized as “Hazara Culture Day” in 2018 in Pakistan’s official calendar under the name “Saqafat-e-Hazaragi”, thanks to the efforts of Fatima Akef, a Hazara political and cultural activist.
