United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Nowruz, is annually observed across the globe on 21st March to create awareness about Nowruz and to organise annual events to commemorate the festival of Nowruz.
The festival is also known by other names like Navruz, Novruz, Nooruz, Nevruz and Nauryz. The word Nawruz means “New Day”.
The first International Day of Nowruz was celebrated on 21st March 2010.
Background:
i.In 2009, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed Nowrusa in its ‘Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ as a festival of rich diversity promoting peace and solidarity across the regions.
ii.In 2010, The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) welcomed the inclusion of Nowruz in the list and recognised the 21st March as the International Day of Nowruz.
Note:
Nowruz was originally inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009 by 6 countries and later in 2016 was extended to another 6.
Festival of Nowruz:
i.Nowruz – the Persian New Year celebrated by more than 300 million people across the globe from Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Turkey and other countries in Central Asia and West Asia.
ii.The festival marks the first day of the spring and it is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on 21 March.
iii.The 2021 festival of Nowruz falls on 20th March 2021.
Significance:
i.The festival of Nowruz is the significant festival of the Parsi community which also marks the day on which King Jamshid was crowned as the King of Persia.
ii.The Nowruz has been celebrated for more than 3000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions from Southeast Europe to the Caucasus and Ural Mountain Range.
Nowruz celebrations at SCO, Beijing, China:
i.On 19th March 2021, India participated in the Nowruz celebrations held at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) Secretariat in Beijing China. The SCO has been celebrating the year 2021 as the “Year of Culture”.
ii.A friendship pavilion set up by the India Tourism office, Beijing was inaugurated at the SCO Secretariat.
iii.India showcased various performances including Kathak, Yoga, Indian cuisine, artefacts to the audience.
iv.The 18 countries which include, member countries, dialogue partners and observer’s countries participated and showcased their cultural diversities including their cuisine.
v.On the occasion, Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri planted a pine tree sapling, as a symbol of the nurturing friendship between India and SCO
