The Culture of Afghanistan

The Afghan culture is primarily influenced by Islam, but also by Hinduism, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism. This is due to the fact that Afghanistan has been the crossroads for India, Iran and central Asia.

Originally, most art was created by men, but recently, Afghan women have taken an important role in theatre arts.

The country’s largest museum, the Kabul National Museum, is renowned for its collection of ancient Buddhist objects. During the Soviet occupation, the museum’s most valuable pieces were moved to the USSR, but today their location is unknown. The museum was ransacked and bombed in 1993.

Almost all the physical art held in Afghanistan is stored in Kabul Museum. There are, however, other forms of valuable art in music and poetry.

The most famous piece of architecture in Afghanistan is the Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge, constructed over the Amu Darya River by the Soviet army in 1982, with the intention of moving troops through Afghanistan

Afghans have an interesting form of dressing as the men typically wear a Pakol hat, Lungee turban and Chapan coat. Women wear dresses and cloth that covers their face, although with the fall of the Taliban regime, many men and women have changed the way they dress.

Religious holidays are celebrated according to the moon calendar and the rest of the holidays during the sun calendar (Independence Day and New Year). On these special days, Afghans visit with family and friends, prepare rich dinners and pray together.