KABUL - It is the beginning of the afternoon in Kabul, the Afghan capital.

A clear blue sky has replaced the rainy weather of the last few days, and a pale winter sun rises over the Hindu Kush Mountains.

The downtown bazaar has been unusually crowded today, as thousands of people prepare for Eid-ul-Adha (Eid Qurban), one of the holy milestones of the year, to be celebrated tomorrow.

From a symbolic point of view, this celebration is “the festival of sacrifice”.

The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.

This is a four day holiday in Muslim countries.

During the festival Muslims who can afford to, sacrifice domestic animals, usually sheep, as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice.

Then the “Qurbani meat” is distributed among family, friends and the poor.

The morning of the first day follows with special prayer, the Eid prayer, when Muslims pray for God's blessing.

This day also marks the end of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

In Afghanistan, people visit family members, relatives and treat their guests with different kinds of food, fruits and organize family picnics.

On this day, families, relatives and friends who broke up, reunite, forget and forgive past differences as a virtue of Eid commanded by God.

And, for every Afghan, it is a very special period.

“I always look forward to this day because my parents will buy me whatever I want,” said Sabira, a 13 year old little girl. “My mom promised that she would buy me my favourite dress and my dad, aunts and uncles will also give me presents – I do not yet know what they are, but I hope they are not all the same," she added, with an innocent smile.

Waseh, a shoe shopkeeper in the bazaar is enthusiastic: “Eid is a very good period for business. People are buying new clothes, new shoes, food, fruits, new furniture, etc. I sold more than a hundred pairs of shoes yesterday comparing with only 10 to 15 before Eid. We had to be open until 1:00am last night and we have to keep our shop open until the late hours for today and tomorrow as well. We are very crowded these days.”

A few metres on and Wahida Azami, a mother of six children, is shopping for her huge family.

“It is an Afghan tradition to shop especially for your house and family,” she said. “I am here to buy some clothes for my children. I am not happy with the prices; they are rising up whenever Eid arrives. Because of Eid, I have to buy my children some clothes, shoes and dresses but I can’t fulfil their choices, the prices are sky high."

Close to her, Karim, a 60 years old a Kabul resident, is also sceptical. "This Eid is not for the poor but for the rich and those who enjoy power and have money,” he said. “What I should do with Eid? If I am not able to treat a guest coming to my house on Eid day – is it Eid for us? I don't think so. This Eid is for ministers, businessmen, commanders and their associates but not for ordinary Afghans.”

Another concern is security. As Fatima, a 28 years old NGO worker said: “This time Eid is different from the past ones. Security is the main problem for Afghans to celebrate this day. I hope God will bless Afghanistan with the virtue of this Eid and all Afghans live a better live in the future.”

But the tremendous challenges being faced don’t appear to disrupt most Afghans from celebrating Eid.

The general feeling is hope, seen in the common scenes of usual life.

For once the crowded bazaar represents Afghanistan as a various and colourful mix of people gathered together to celebrate their faith – in peace and fraternity.

Gathered with some other students, Shabana Razi, 25, delivers her message for the holy period: "Eid is a good opportunity for Afghans to unite and come together to make Afghanistan a better place. That is what this day is for. This is a day of forgiveness and mercy. God commands everyone to forget hostilities of the past and show mercy so that God can show mercy on you.”

At the end of the afternoon the sun slowly vanishes behind the Hindu Kush, and an icy wind starts to blow in the streets of Kabul.

Although it is freezing, the bazaar remains crowded, as Afghans continue to vibrantly celebrate this period over the next three days – perhaps the normality is the best sign of hope the people can offer to the world.

By Jamil Danish and Alexandre Brecher-Dolivet, UNAMA