Iran: Spring Festival of Norouz Celebrated

I didn't know Norouz lasted longer than just one day...



Iran: Spring festival of Norouz celebrated

Tehran, 20 March (AKI) - Iranians are celebrating the ancient Persian spring festival of Norouz on Thursday, which also marks the start of 1387, the new Iranian year.

Norouz, which means "new day" in Farsi, has been celebrated for the past 3,000 years and has its roots in Zorastrianism.

It was once referred to as "Farvardegan" and the festival is based on two concepts: the end and the rebirth which refers to the end of winter and re-birth of the world or the arrival of spring.

It was King Jamshid Shah of the Achamenida dynasty, who in 500 BC, decided to coincide the start of the calendar year with this festival that clearly has agricultural origins.

In ancient Persian culture, Norouz marked the promise of a year of peace and prosperity.

Norouz is also celebrated in countries that have diverse religions and ethnicities. These include Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Georgia, Iraq, Tajikistan, Syria, Armenia and India.

Traditionally, the festival is marked by spring cleaning at home, acquiring at least one new item of clothing, distributing coloured eggs and families gathering around a table decorated with honey, sweets and other fruits.

Norouz lasts 13 days.

http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=1.0.1992895045

Afghans celebrate Nauroz; marks beginning of New Year

Population 3/21/2008 3:37:00 PM

KABUL, March 21 (KUNA) -- Afghans on Friday celebrated the Nauroz or New Year festival with colourful kites in the skies above Kabul and dance and other festivals in other cities, especially in the country's northern city of Mazare Sharif.

The 21st day of March marks the beginning of spring in Afghanistan and also is the first day of the Afghan calendar. Like the Iranians, the day is celebrated with traditional zeal and fervour and the celebrations are called Nauroz or Nawroz.

Hundreds of people, especially youth, gathered at Tapa Nadar Khan, a mound overlooking the city of Kabul, to take part in kite flying competitions. As the day was off day throughout the country, rush of people was also seen at Qargha Lake, the surroundings of which was developed by an Afghan with millions of dollars to provide a cheaper recreational facility to the people of this fortified capital.

People also the sole zoo and the recently developed Bagh-e-Babar, the other two places worth visit in this entertainment-strapped city where every square and locality remind the bitter memories of war between mujahideen factions in late 80s and early 90s that killed more than 70,000 people.

Among other cities, the day was celebrated in Herat and Mazare Sharif. People from all corners of the country thronged the city of Mazare Sharif to amuse themselves with the blossoming flowers, Buzkushi (the game played together by many horsemen and any one to took the dead lamb to the other pole is declared winner of the game), running competition of donkeys and flying of colourful kites.

The festivity continues for three days in the city visited by people from all the provinces. Nauroz is also celebrated in the neighbouring Iran and some Central Asian countries.

During the era of Taliban, the celebration was banned for being un-Islamic. The hardliners believed that Nauroz was the celebration of the Zoroastrians and hence no Muslim would be allowed to follow the customs and traditions of non-Muslims. However, after the overthrow of Taliban in late 2001, the people of Afghanistan once again started celebrating this festival. (end) gk.tg KUNA 211537 Mar 08NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1893279&Language=en

Kurds in Turkey celebrate Norooz

Society 3/21/2008 12:22:00 PM

(With photos) ISTANBUL, March 21 (KUNA) -- Celebrations of the Norooz, the first day of spring and the Kurdish new year, began here on Friday amid strict security precautions in the Kurdish-populated southeastern Turkish region. People wearing colorful clothes, mainly red and yellow, gathered in squares, singing and performing traditional dances.

Some men, women, and children jumped over fire, hoping to get lucky in the new year based on their Persian beliefs. The celebrations, in which members of political parties and heads of syndicates participate, will continue all day until sunset.

In the past years, Turkey strictly banned Norooz celebrations, fearing that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) would use the event to express demands for establishing an independent Kurdish state in the east and south of the country.

The Turkish Army increased its forces on the borders with Iraq to prevent Kurdish rebels from infiltrating into Turkey. (end) ta.ris KUNA 211222 Mar 08NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1893252&Language=en