Iranˈs UN Envoy: Nowruz Gathers Nations Under Friendship Umbrella

Geneva, March 29, IRNA – Permanent representative and ambassador of Iran in Geneva Headquarters of UN said here Friday that Norouz celebrations confirm harmony of human life with nature and gather nations under united umbrella of friendship. ˈNorouz marks the beginning of the spring season, which is the season for dynamism and movement of the nature, whose abundant beauty is a reminder of the Unique Creatorˈs unmatched beauty,ˈ said Mohsen Naziri in an address in the opening ceremony of the Geneva Headquarters of UN for the International Norouz Celebration. He noted the 3,000 year old history of Norouz in various parts of the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asian region, and the Balkans, arguing that Norouz is the celebration of the human beingsˈ full harmony with the nature. The permanent Iranian envoy at UN said that Norouz encourages the human beings to protect the environment and the nature, telling them that they share the same fate and highlights the need for collective endeavor of the mankind aimed at ensuring a better future for the whole world nations. Naziri ended his address asking for nationsˈ collective cooperation aimed at constructing a safe world in which peace would prevail for all the human beings. A symbolic celebration of the Iranian New Year, Norouz of 1393 was held in UN Geneva headquarters, headed by Iran and cosponsored also by eight other countries, namely Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. A good number of citizens of those countries, ambassadors, and diplomats of many other countries around the globe, diplomats residing in Geneva and members of the secretariats of the international organizations based there attended the international celebration. Nourouz meaning ˈ[The] New Dayˈ) is the name of the Iranian New Year in the Solar Hijri calendar. Norouz is also referred to as the Persian New Year. Norouz marks the first day of spring or Equinox as and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment that the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and families gather together to observe the rituals. Norouz is celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths. It originated in Persia in one of the capitals of the Achaemenid empire in Persis (Fars) in Iran and is also celebrated by the cultural region that came under Iranian influence or had migrations by Persians including Azerbaijan, Kurdish inhabited regions of eastern Turkey and Northern Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and other scattered populations in Central Asia. Norouz is partly rooted in the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism. Among other ideas, Zoroastrianism is the first monotheistic religion that emphasizes broad concepts such as the corresponding work of good and evil in the world, and the connection of humans to nature. Zoroastrian practices were dominant for much of the history of ancient Persia (centered in what is now Iran). Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin. Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox. The UNˈs General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Norouz, describing it as a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. During the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held from September 28 – 2 October 2009 in Abu Dhabi, Nourouz was officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity./end