Taliban rulers of Afghanistan have banned celebration of  Nowruz in the central Daikundi province.

The group, which forcefully came to power in 2021, also warned it would take action against those found celebrating the festival.

Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in an announcement said the group’s regulators have told people “Islam prohibits the celebration of Nowruz”, reports Khaama Press.

According to this announcement, Taliban observers have met with the worshipers of at least 35 mosques in Daikundi, and have asked them to resist the “Western ideas, Khawarij and rituals that are not in line with Islam”.

In this declaration, Nowruz is attributed to the “era of ignorance” and people are warned that the occasion is promoted by “foreigners” among Muslims.

The ministry of vice and virtue of the Taliban has warned ordinary people to refrain from celebrating “alien and un-Islamic customs, and days that are not holy in Islam”. 

According to reports, the festival was also banned during Taliban's rule between 1996-2001.