Celebrating culture in Bamyan (NATO in Afghanistan)

Posted by Admin on Apr 16, 2015 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Nestled under one of the great Buddha alcoves in Bamyan, the governor and people of the region have gathered to celebrate arts and culture. “If we have such active youths and people like all of you, there’s no doubt our culture will live forever.” Bamyan is one of the most visited place in afghanistan, with the lush landscape surrounded by mountains and the Band-e-Amir lakes a short drive away. Back during the Christian era, as part of the Buddhist Kusha Empire, Bamyan became the forefront of Buddhist expansion since it began, dating back to 580 ADBC. The world’s earliest oil paintings have been discovered in caves behind the mostly destroyed colossal statues. Monks used to live in the caves surrounding them, now inhabited by Afghans.

Bamyan is a much-loved area for historians and archaeologists. Its ancient site, much of which still waiting to be found and excavated, fuse influences of a time combine by when Greek Turkish, Persian, Chinese and Indian all at some stage had a foothold here. Today, its population is predominantly ethnic Hazara. As much as the day is about celebrating culture, the message also seems to be about tolerance and history. This pays homage to the most famous of Bamyan’s site, the Buddha
Statues- the tallest standing at 55 metres which were destroyed by the Taliban, 12 years ago.

We organised this festival to re-live the history of Bamyan, because during the wars it was hidden underground.”
Highlighting the arts scene of the area.films, songs and stage plays make up the day’s entertainment. The main event being the stage play, which sought to belittle the Taliban, and their illádvised decision to destroy such fun examples of Bamyan’s heritage. “He wasn’t the leader behind the Buddhas destruction.”

“So you mean that he didn’t know what he was doing, he was just following orders?”
“Yes, He is not the person we should be investigating.
“No! I am the person who bombed the Buddhas.
“Yes, he is not the person we should be investigating.”
“No, I am the person who bombed the buddhas.

I’m the person behind the burning of the Buddhas. Hassan Fazili said “When I first heard about the destruction, I was not in this country and I had never seen the Buddhas. But, when I performed, I really took on the rode, and I was very saddened by what happened.” As the night draws in, they make a final homage by going up into what remains of the region’s greatest and most beloved attraction, the Buddha. Finishing the day off, one final song is sung in the local Dari Dialect of Hazaragee, paying homage to Bamyan. “We wanted to protest against the decision of the Taliban to bomb the Buddhas. I want to tell them, With the destruction of the Buddhas, you were not able to destroy the culture of Bamyan.”

This is William Bonnett, for the NATOChannel in Bamyan Afghanistan.