What cast a pall over this year’s celebration was President Ghani’s decision last week to fire the local police chief, a protégé of Mr. Noor, and replace him with his own candidate. Mr. Noor’s armed supporters and the local police resisted, but Mr. Ghani sent in Special Forces troops to take over the police headquarters. A brief spasm of fighting killed one policeman and wounded 20 others, mostly civilians, and Mr. Ghani had his way.

Afghan Army troops remain on the streets, blocking vehicles’ access to the Blue Mosque and searching everyone who enters. Mr. Noor has vowed to take action, saying that the police chief’s appointment violates an agreement with Mr. Ghani that Mr. Noor would be consulted on such moves.

During Nowruz festivities, nearly every home is filled to bursting with guests from other parts of the country. Nasratullah Qarizada, a dress importer in Kabul, the capital, who is from Mazar, said he had many fewer guests this year — but there were still around 40 people.

The fear of violence diminished, but did not stop, the party. The streets were filled with revelers, even as shopkeepers complained they were not as numerous as in past years. Small crowds gathered wherever an egg-fighting match took place: a game with obscure rules in which hard-boiled eggs are bashed against one another to see whose egg is toughest. Warplanes flew overhead, firing off chaff with embedded fairy lights.