Afghanistan to hold 5th intl. Norouz celebrations

Norouz (Persian for ‘new day’) is the New Year’s 1^st day in the Iranian Solar calendar at the beginning of spring. Norouz is also referred to as the Iranian or Persian New Year.

Also held in other countries, this year the ceremony’s host invited the three other countries’ officials to take part in the ceremony.

Norouz is the oldest ever festival commemorated in the world, recognized by the UN General Assembly. Since then, authorities of the countries which celebrate Norouz gather annually to celebrate Norouz coming.

The 1^st international Norouz ceremony was held in 2011 in Tehran. In the occasion Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iraq’s presidents took part in addition to Azerbaijan’s foreign minister and Turkish deputy-prime minister.

The 2^nd international Norouz ceremony was also held in Tehran in 2012. Presidents of Iran, Tajikistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Armenia and Turkmenistan participated in the ceremony. Pakistan’s parliament speaker, Turkish and Azerbaijani deputy-PM and, foreign ministers of Lebanon and Oman, Indian minister of health, and some other international officials attended.

The 3^rd international Norouz Celebration was held in Tajikistan in 2012 and the 4^th international celebration of Norouz was held in Turkmenistanin 2013. This spring the 5^th international celebration of Norouz is being held in Kabul, Afghanistan  with countries recognizing Norouz attending the festivity.