Rozvazgasht (Yalda Night)

The Hazara people refer to Yalda as "the day of return," Chele as "the first night of winter," and Vazgasht as the day following. Chele (چله), Chela Night (شب چله), and Chelenisheni (چله نیشنی)are Persian words, whereas Yalda is Syriac. Rozvazgasht occurs at the end of fall and the start of winter, which is known as Yalda Night (Shab Yalda). 

Yalda is the Persian Chele, and Chele means "Day and Return" to the Hazaras. This is the shortest night of the year. The reason for not addressing it is that the light, brightness, and life that died, and the night, darkness, and gloom overcome, will return, and the day and night will occur. The night of Chaleh (Yalda) is the night of the day of return. The night of Chale (Yalda) is the night when the day begins to lengthen from the day following. The first day of Jadi (Persian Month 1st month of winter called in Afghanistan Jadi) is known as the day of return.

Yalda night, or the longest night of the year, is one of our people's most beautiful nights, with many traditions and ceremonies ranging from eating watermelon, Pomegranate, and many other things to Hafiz reading and poetry night. Yalda night is an excuse to be together.

Fortunately, on November 30, 2022, Chale/Yalda night was recognized by UNESCO as a shared intangible cultural heritage between Afghanistan and Iran, bringing joy to followers of this historic tradition.

A peot by Ali Madad Rezwani:

يلدا، نه شب که ماه دل‌آراي کابل است

ماه تمام در دل شب هاي کابل است

از پشت ابر، نه که اين بُرقع سياه

با اضطراب، محو تماشاي کابل است

او غصه مي خورد، به گمانم که تا هنوز

اندوهگينِ روزِ مباداي کابل است

تا صبح آه و ناله‌ي ما را شنيده است

تا صبح، او به فکر مداواي کابل است

مي‌گفت جنگ نه، خرابي و رنج، نه

دنبال کشفِ تازه معناي کابل است

با روسريِ آبيِ خود پاک مي کند

او هرچه گرد بر رخ فرداي کابل است

آري، براي من، من شاعر يقين کنم

يلدا، نه شب که دختر زيباي کابل است