Nowruz, a 3,000-Year-Old Festival Celebrated by Millions Worldwide

Nowruz, also referred to as the Iranian or Persian New Year, is a venerable festival dating back 3,500 years. It heralds the onset of spring and marks the commencement of the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar. This celebration is cherished by over 300 million individuals globally, spanning countries along the historic Silk Roads. Among these nations are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Some 300 million people around the world are starting their annual celebration of renewal and harmony with nature in what is to them the biggest cultural holiday of the year, typically involving 13 days of rituals.

Nowruz (alternatively spelled Nauruz, Nauryz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Norooz, Norouz, or Novruz), also known as Persian New Year (Nowruz means “new day” in Persian), is celebrated across ethnic groups with a common Silk Roads heritage, including Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey, as well as their diaspora in other countries.

Typically falling on or around the spring equinox, between March 19th and March 21st, Nowruz holds significant cultural and social importance. The term “Nowruz” itself translates to “new day” in Farsi, symbolizing renewal and rebirth.

Nowruz festivities are characterized by various customs and traditions. Families come together to exchange visits and partake in feasts, strengthening bonds and fostering a sense of unity. A symbolic ritual during Nowruz involves tossing sprouts into flowing water, symbolizing the casting away of the old year’s hardships and embracing a fresh beginning.

On the final day of Nowruz, people often venture into the countryside for picnics, reveling in the beauty of nature and the promise of a new cycle. It’s customary to discard sprouts into moving water, symbolizing a collective desire for renewal and prosperity in the year ahead.

Overall, Nowruz encapsulates the spirit of rejuvenation and hope, offering a time for reflection, celebration, and the anticipation of new beginnings for millions worldwide.