PESHAWAR, March 21: The Afghan nationals celebrated the festival of Nauroze here on Thursday, which this year fell in the holy month of Muharram.

Due to traditional mourning in Muharram by the Shi’ite Muslims, the pomp and show associated with the festival was much less than the previous years.

However, in areas where Afghans have a dominant presence, most of them were seen clad in the newly-sewn clothes who visited different parks and gardens to enjoy the colours of Spring.

The mercury level in the city had dropped as a consequence of an overnight rain, turning the weather pleasant. The gentle breeze of Spring coupled with greenery in parks and gardens added colour to the fiesta.

In Hayatabad, a posh township where some of the sectors have Afghans of urban roots in large numbers, the three prominent parks — Bagh-i-Naran, Tatara Park and Khyber Park — wore festive looks as visitors in coloured clothes thronged these places. Most of the visiting families had reached these parks in the morning, bringing with them eatables and other picnic-related items.

In city area, the Afghan females visited Pardah Bagh, which is reserved for ladies. In view of the current wave of religious intolerance and sectarian violence in the country, strict security measures had been adopted in all the sensitive spots to stave off any unpleasant occurrence. Security personnel were deputed in parks and other places where Afghans were to pay visit in connection with the festival.

Our Correspondent adds from D.I. Khan: The Nauroze was celebrated in a modest way here. Only token celebrations were held at a few venues, with no traditional procession being taken out from anywhere.