New Additions

Ariana, Khorasan and Afghanistan

by

Ali Ahmad Jalali
June 10, 2018

The territory of today’s Afghanistan straddles the geographic boundaries of three main regions. It encompasses the converging space and dividing verges of Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia with historical connections to China. Its identity as a state is based less on geography and more on history. Throughout its long history the country has served as the buffer between expanding empires or the collision space between competing regional powers.

Afghanistan contains the key strategic lands of the ancient Ariana, an extensive geographic area between Persia and the Indian Subcontinent. Ariana means the “land of Aryans” and has its roots in Zoroastrianism’s Avesta.

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Updated Afghan Clothing Page!

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photo courtesy of zarinas.com

Traditional clothing in Afghanistan is generally loose-fitting and conservative.  Women typically wear a dress with loose-fitting pants, called a tunbaan, underneath that goes down to the ankles. A chador (headscarf) is worn to cover the hair.  The use of a hijab, typically worn by women in Iran and other Islamic countries, is also a common way Afghan women cover their hair today. Only very conservative women wear an all covering burqa. During the Taliban rule, all women were forced to wear a burqa when going out of the house. Today, one can find some women, even in Kabul,  still wearing a burqa as they claim it makes them feel safer, and prevents them from being harassed by men. On formal occasions, women wear fancier dresses that have intricate embroidery on it – sometimes small mirrors are sown on the dress. Each region has it’s own style. Click here to learn more.