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Zoroastrianism was a prominent religious belief in Afghanistan for centuries.[1] Until half a century ago, 2,000 Zoroastrians were living in Afghanistan.[2] For a long period of time Bactria was a center of Zoroastrianism,[3] and Zoroaster is said to have taught in the city, perhaps in the 15th century BCE.[4] Arachosia (modern Kandahar) was considered the second fatherland of Zoroastrianism.[5] Additionally, Balkh is also known as one of the birthplaces of Nowruz.[6][7]
- ^ Runion, Meredith L. (2017). The History of Afghanistan. doi:10.5040/9798400664359. ISBN 979-8-4006-6435-9. S2CID 160052371.
Zoroastrianism was a prominent religious belief in Afghanistan for centuries...
- ^ Comerford, Patrick (2021). "A Reflection on the Crises in Afghanistan following the Fall of Kabul". Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review. 110 (440): 458–469. doi:10.1353/stu.2021.0027. ISSN 2565-6570. S2CID 247281221.
The region of Arachosia, around Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, was once primarily Zoroastrian and is sometimes described as the 'second homeland of Zoroastrianism.' Until half a century ago, 2,000 Zoroastrians or Parsees were living in Afghanistan.
- ^ Jackson, Peter (February 2012). Central Asia in World History. Oxford University Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-19-533819-5.
South of Sogdia lay Bactria, earlier under Kushan and Hephthalite rule, a major center of Zoroastrianism and Buddhism
- ^ Alikuzai, Hamid Wahed (October 2013). A Concise History of Afghanistan in 25 Volumes. Trafford Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-4907-1441-7.
In 15h century BC, Zoroaster, a native of Bactria, taught his monotheistic philosophy and ethics in the city of Balkh.
- ^ Gnoli, Gherardo (1989). The Idea of Iran: An Essay on Its Origin. Istituto italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-88-6323-069-7.
Arachosia would have been only a second fatherland for Zoroastrianism, a significant role should still be attributed to this south-eastern region in the history of the Zoroastrian tradition. Apart from the hypothetical connotation of some of K. Hoffmann's arguments, it is this last conclusion we are interested in and which, in any case, seems to possess a certain degree of truth. It would be even more likely, in my opinion, if, as regards the role played in the history of Zoroastrianism, we considered Arachosia as being closely connected with the neighbouring Drangiana, a Zoroastrian centre that was most certainly among the most ancient.
- ^ Poyan, Sayed Mustafa; Yushi, Jiang (18 August 2022). "Using the city's cultural and historical assets to promote its Identity". www.researchsquare.com. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1958200/v1. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
Balkh is also known to be the birthplace of Nowruz, the Persian/Iranian New Year observed in Afghanistan and the world on Spring Equinox.
- ^ "Did You Know? The City of Balkh: Ancient Capital of Bactria and Centre of Buddhism and Zoroastrianism along the Silk Roads | Silk Roads Programme". en.unesco.org. Retrieved 16 February 2024.