The Role of Nowruz in Strengthening Cultural Relations between 12 Countries
Nowruz is one of the greatest of ancient Iranian festivities, which marks the arrival of new year and is celebrated every year. This joyous festivity and its brilliant historical background are closely linked to nature and its revival as well as the renewal of the entire world of existence. This festivity belongs to both Aryan Iran and Islamic Iran and is an ancient ceremony that has, through the millennia and various eras of this land encompassed the loftiest of human and cultural symbols and has so deeply got rooted in the cultural subconscious of this land that no section of Iran’s history can monopolize it.
Nowruz at a Glance
Nowruz, which in the Persian language literally means ‘new day’, is the Iranian New Year coinciding with the first day of spring, and is nowadays celebrated in many countries of the world and by various ethnolinguistic groups usually on or around March 21 on the Gregorian calendar.
Nowruz from the Viewpoint of Islam
Historians and researchers are of the difference of opinion about the origin of Nowruz. It seems that after migrating to the Iranian Plateau and bordering on the Mediterranean civilization the Aryans divided the year into two parts, each of which began with a revolution, and the two festivities of Nowruz and Mehregan marked the beginning of these two revolutions. That is, at the time of the summer revolution they celebrated Nowruz, and at the time of the winter revolution, they celebrated Mehregan. Some research scholars believe that both Nowruz and Mehregan festivities existed in Iran even before the arrival of the Aryans and were celebrated by the pre-Aryan tribes living on the Iranian Plateau.
From India’s Holi to Iran’s Nowruz 1
Spring festivals symbolize the persistence or rebirth of beliefs. The conjunction of the vernal equinox and spring full moon brings celebrations across the Northern hemisphere
Nowruz Is the Festivity of Light, Friendship, and Tolerance
H. E. Sarvar Bakhri, President of the ECO Cultural Institute
Nowruz in the Republic of Azerbaijan
The Republic of Azerbaijan is the only non-Persian speaking country the government of which has declared Nowruz as a national festivity and celebrates it in a very beautiful way. Nowruz is an official holiday in the Azerbaijani calendar. Traditions and customs related to Nowruz ceremonies in this country are more similar to those in Iran as compared to other neighboring countries.
Nowruz in Afghanistan
Nowruz festivity has had a long history in Afghanistan and it has been celebrated in this country for thousands of years. Unfortunately, however, there are no reliable and authentic documents available about the time and manner of the genesis of Nowruz in Afghanistan, even though some research scholars believe that its life is the same as the history of the Aryan tribes.
Nowruz in Tajikistan
Tajikistan’s biggest annual celebration is the spring festival of Nowruz, which marks the beginning of the Persian New Year and starts at the spring equinox. For the Tajiks, Nowruz represents a festival of friendship and renewal of all living beings.
