Residents of Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of Balkh, said that the number of visitors has significantly dropped and that the celebration of the solar new year was faded.

Mazar-e-Sharif has been the main host of the new-year celebration from ancient times but on Tuesday—the first day of the 1402 solar year--the city was not crowded with guests as usual.

Thousands of Afghans would gather in Mazar-e-Sharif to celebrate the event at a famous shrine, which is considered the grave of Hazrat-e-Ali, the fourth caliphate of Islam.

“The difference now is that due to crowds, individuals will not be allowed to even come close and cross the wall,” said Mohammad Dawood, a resident of who came to Mazar-e-Sharif.

The owners of hotels and restaurants of Mazar-e-Sharif said they did not even have rooms for additional guests in previous years, but the number of guests dropped significantly this year.

“The people who come from a long distance, there was not even room for them in this hotel then. Even our own friends would have been forced to stand in line outside of the hotel to receive food,” said Ajmal Yousufi, an owner of the hotel in Mazar-e-Sharif.

“The apartment would be full of guests but this year, there were very few guests,” said Yar Mohammad, head of a restaurant.

However, some of the citizens who came to Mazar-e-Sharif said economic hardship is one of the main reasons for the lack of a good celebration of the new year.

“It is because of unemployment, and lack of money. The people are not capable of traveling,” said Ghulal Dastgeer, a resident of Parwan.

“As you see, very few arrived in the shrine this year, I think it is all because of the severe economic condition of the people,” said Mohammad Dawood, a resident of Laghman.

Previously, a big green flag would have been lifted as a traditional celebration of Nawroz in the Shrine of Sakhi in Mazar-e-Sharif. There was also music, dancing and other parties.