Nowruz Day is the Iranian New Year that starts at the time of the spring equinox when the sun passes over the equator towards its way to the north. This year’s spring equinox event happened on the 20th of March at 6:36 am in Tehran, 3:06 am in London, and on 19 March 23:06 pm in New York.
This widely popular festival is celebrated all over the world among Iranians and other nationalities as well. It welcomes the spring as a moment of celebration with hospitality and connecting with nature and our loved ones. This traditional festivals have their roots in Iran or Persia. When the spring equinox touched the sun it marked the beginning of 13 days of Iranian festivals.
What are the Values of Nowruz Festivals? How It is Celebrated Differently in Every Country
The Nowruz is the Iranian festivals, that mark the beginning of the Spring season. Its core value is to take time from your busy schedule to connect with your loved ones and connect with nature. People all over the world Persian roots celebrate traditionally by wearing the cultural outfit of Iran and taking time for themselves to connect with their loved ones, going out in nature to spend the joyful time with their family members.
The Iranian country celebrated the festivals with hope and enthusiasm. For them, it is the time to remove all the grudges and make a tie with the people who were once their enemy.
Most Iranian people actually do the cleaning of their house called “Khoone Takoone”, which translates into “ Shaking the House” from the dirt and clearing your concise by making amends for the wrongdoing person by giving them a gift of Ajeel, a mix of dried fruits and nuts.
They also sprout lentils and wheat a week prior to the festivals and spread these sprouts in the bonfire.
In Afghanistan, people eat a dessert made of seven different dried fruits and nuts soaked in syrup called mewa.
In Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan vessels are placed around the house and filled with water before the clock strikes the New Year.
Afghanistan Buzakashi sports played among the youth, but they used the body of a goat instead of a ball.
Nowruz Day History and its Recognition By the United Nations
Nowruz is an Iranian festival celebrating the cultural respect of Iran with their family members, It spreads the message of harmony, and friendliness among all the Iranians across the world and connects them with nature.
Nowruz is the Iranian festival recognized Internationally by the United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organisation on 30 September 2009. They dedicated the 21st of March as the International Nowruz Day.
The History of the Nowruz dates back to the 3,500 years in Persia, It is the Zoroastrian holiday. Zoroastrianism is the religion of Iran which was spread by the prophet Zoroaster in approximately 500 BCE. At the time of the Persian Empire ( 559 – 331 BCE), the rulers of all the subjected countries were summoned to Nowruz to bring gifts to the Kings at Persepolis, an ancient city located in the Town of Shiraz.
Zoroastrianism was the main religion of Iran until the Muslims invaded the Persian empire and established their rule. But Muslim leaders included it in their culture and celebrated it every year by growing lentils and offering them to the river and bring peace, and harmony among their neighboring states.
Now this festival is celebrated by many countries including Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan which are under the Persian empire, and the Iranian people who lived in Europe, and North America as well.
You can catch the celebration of Nowruz around the world in the cities of Turkey, Iran, Dubai, Toronto, London, New York, and Los Angeles.
For Example -:
- Disco Tehran, an Iranian dance troupe holds dance parties in Berlin New York, Paris and London on 22nd March
- Paramatta in Sydney celebrated a day of Family Friendly Nowruz Activities on 17 March
- London’s Lauderdale House is hosting the Nowruz festivals with month-long music festivals, talks, and exhibitions.