Nowruz celebration symbolizes splendid civilization of a great nation
The people of Iran are currently busy preparing themselves to celebrate their most glorious national festival of Nowruz as new Iranian solar calamander year 1390 approaches. Since early Persian history, this magnificent occasion marking the first day of spring which mostly falls on March 21, and lasting almost two weeks, has been widely celebrated throughout Iran.
Nowruz, rich cultural heritage
Nowruz or “new day” celebrations are deeply rooted in the ancient Iranian civilization, which is as old as the history of Persia. Today, after the lapse thousands of years, people from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old, celebrate it as the greatest national holiday. The occasion symbolizes an everlasting tradition of a great nation.
In the course of history, foreign powers have invaded our homeland, ruled for short or long periods of time and even tried to impose their culture, which was assimilated into the powerful Iranian-Islamic civilization. As soon as they were defeated, however, their short-lived effects faded leaving only disconnected fragments.
Nowruz, a symbol of cultural resistance withstanding the socio-political effects of foreign dominance, has always carried an everlasting message of peace and prosperity for Iranians, enabling them to preserve their original identity in the face of foreign onslaughts.
The Nowruz festival held out against many disastrous events and incursions and the people of Iran demonstrated their firm belief and determination to keep alive their traditions and always expelled invaders sooner or later. The invaders were eventually expelled from Iran making them realize that it is the Iranians who will lead a free and independent life in their motherland and safeguard their sacred and ancient national culture.
The festival marking the first day of spring is the most popular celebration in our social history, literature, politics, poetry and the life of the people. It is also widely commemorated in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Syria, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Republic and Iraqi Kurdistan.
Man stands on the threshold of the second decade of 21st century, yet he has not been able to untangle himself from the web of a historical deadline. In coming years, new global cultural movements will emerge. Sooner or later, arms race will be replaced by these movements.
In this culture-oriented age, only those nations enriched with well-established civilization, cultural heritage and ancient values will survive.
We should also remember that Iran is not restricted by its borders. Its spirit is bestowed with spiritual, cultural and national values inherited from centuries of hard work. The most outstanding feature of these values is found in Iran’s national history, literature, Ferdowsi’s masterpiece poetical composition, the Shahnameh, the poems of Hafez and Sadi, the couplets of Nezami, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, classical Iranian music, the intricate design of the azure tiles in historical monuments and Nowruz.
Photo: Women from Semnan Province prepare a “Haft Seen” tray on March 12, 2011 at Tehran’s Khanat Caravanserai, where is currently playing host to the festival of Nowruz rituals by Iranian nomads. (Mehr/Ra’uf Mohseni)
Source: tehrantimes.com
