A father brings his sick son to the holy shrine of Mazar-e-Sharif. They have travelled from their village, hundreds of kilometers away. The stayed overnight in the marble ground of the shrine, like thousands of other pilgrims who mostly bring along their sick relatives, in the eve of the Persian New Year (Naoruz). It’s considered a very auspicious day. There will be a ritual of raising sacred flag in the shrine to mark the New Year. The people believe, the flag has magical power, and those who touch the flag will have their wishes fulfilled. That’s the reason why people willing to suffer the arduous journey, to sleep under open sky, and to struggle with the crowds to be the first to touch the sacred flag. It’s the question of faith.
Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, 2008