Eid Khvancheh, A Costly Tradition For Engaged Herat Couples

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Eid Khvancheh, a long-standing tradition in eastern Herat province, has high demand this year, but youths complain about their economic problems and lack of jobs.

Khvancheh is a decorated tray that is given to bride and groom as a gift or Eidana in some areas of the country, including Herat province, especially on holidays, weddings, engagements, and especial occasions. These trays contain fruits, sweets, clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, and other gifts that are decorated with beautiful flowers.

A young man Mohammad Nakian who got engaged five months ago, told Pajhwok Afghan News Eid expenses were heavy and unbearable for families of bride and groom.

Although he is unemployed, he has prepared Khvencheh worth 20,000 afghanis for his fiancée, but he says there is need to prevent undesirable cultures in society.

He said this culture not only harms grooms, but also forces bride's family to provide Khvancheh, which puts great economic pressure on them.

Syed Raqeeb, another youth and newlywed, explained preparing Eidi was an undesirable social custom that caused problems for most poor and needy families.

Raqeeb emphasized that such costs should be reduced and culture must be created and unnecessary customs should be prevented.

“Most families do not have the ability to prepare Khvancheh, but due to customs and traditions of society, they are forced to borrow and match it with the other party. In this regard, culture creating should be carried out, which requires mobilization and a public fight against undesirable customs with excessive spending”.

On the other hand, Eidi sellers are happy with their busy market ahead of Eid.

Hamid, a florist and decorator of Khvancheh, said their business thrived during New Year and Eid nights than at other times of the year.

According to Hamid, some people pay exorbitant prices to decorate Eid khenchas, while the cost of a simple khencha ranges from 200 to 2,000afs.

On the other hand, Mir Qais, another florist, told Pajhwok since Ramadan 20^th their business has been booming, and more youths visit their shop to buy Eid Khvancheh.

The families of engaged young people bring various Eid gifts, including clothes, sweets, and cosmetics, to groom and bride to decorate and package in colorful boxes.

Qais asked families to avoid excessive spending and undesirable cultures so that young people can spend Eid with more joy.

Meanwhile, a number of culturists considered these costly customs unacceptable and called for serious measures to reduce these costs.

Youths are facing economic challenges due to lack of job opportunities, but undesirable customs and traditions, especially taking Eidi, Nawrozi, Iftari, and winter gifts to bride's or groom's house, add to the problems of young engaged couples, Gholam Sakhi Gholami, a culturist whose son has engaged explained.

According to Gholami, expensive Eid Khvancheh have caused competition among families in society, which has created an unpleasant custom among people, and family elders should help youths who are engaged in this regard to avoid heavy expenses.

Some youths are unable to get married due to high costs and undesirable customs in the province.

But officials of Information and Culture Department emphasize preventing excessive costs and unnecessary expenditures.

Hamidullah Ghiasi, head of culture and arts, said there is no problem with giving Eid gifts to bride or groom from a religious perspective, but there is a need to prevent waste and expenses that cause youths to face economic problems.

Ghiasi considers one of the reasons behind problems in newlyweds to be undesirable customs and economic problems, and adds all families should refrain from extravagance and promoting undesirable cultures.

hz/ma

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