Nowruz
Iranian New Year marking the March equinox / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nowruz or Navroz (Persian: نوروز [noːˈɾuːz])[lower-alpha 20] is the Iranian New Year or Persian New Year.[28][29] Historically, it has been observed by Persians and other Iranian peoples,[30] but is now celebrated by many ethnicities worldwide. It is a festival based on the Northern Hemisphere spring equinox,[31] which marks the first day of a new year on the Solar Hijri calendar; it usually coincides with a date between 19 March and 22 March on the Gregorian calendar.
Nowruz | |
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Observed by | Iranian peoples (originally) Current countries:
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Type | Cultural |
Significance | Vernal equinox; first day of a new year on the Solar Hijri calendar |
Date | Between 19 and 22 March[25] |
2024 date | 03:06:26, 20 March (UTC)[26][27] |
Frequency | Annual |
Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz | |
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Country | Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan |
Reference | 1161 |
Region | Asia and the Pacific |
Inscription history | |
Inscription | 2016 (4th session) |
The roots of Nowruz lie in Zoroastrianism, and it has been celebrated by many peoples across West Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia for over 3,000 years.[32][33][34][35] In the modern era, while it is observed as a secular holiday by most celebrants, Nowruz remains a holy day for Zoroastrians,[36] Baháʼís,[37] and Ismaʿili Shia Muslims.[38][39][40]
For the Northern Hemisphere, Nowruz marks the beginning of spring.[27][41] Customs for the festival include various fire and water rituals, celebratory dances, gift exchanges, and poetry recitations, among others; these observances differ between the cultures of the diverse communities that celebrate it.[42]