Imagine yourself walking through the streets where the loud and charming sounds of pipes entertain your soul. Where attired people are dancing and singing under shining spring sun with warm smiles on their faces. Where everyone is willing to have you as a guest and offer you a big plate of fresh, hot meal.
So where do you think you are? What do you think all of those people are celebrating? Independence Day in China? Valentine’s Day in France? No, it is Navruz in Tajikistan, the heart of Central Asia.
Traditionally, people around the world celebrate New Year on Jan. 1. While celebrating New Year, we follow some common patterns of traditions such as giving presents, making wishes and having a holiday dinner. But in some countries such as Tajikistan, New Year is being celebrated twice – once in January 1 and one more time in March, 21.
Navruz has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and originated in Ancient Persia. Translating from Farsi the word Navruz stands for “Nav” – New and “Ruz” – Day, New Day.
Navruz is celebrated in March 21 every year, at the time the sun enters Aries. Nawruz starts with the exact moment of the vernal equinox signalizing spring’s coming.
Navruz celebrations incorporate various traditions that reflect the hopes and beliefs of Asian people. According to the article posted in the “Journal of Turkish Weekly” in 2009, Navruz embodies the rebirth of nature after cold winter, the victory of light and virtue over darkness and evil.
Navruz is primarily considered farmers’ day as it gives start to planting season. Thousands of machines and people start working on fields as soon as the “first furrow” is laid on fresh ground.
During the days of Navruz celebrations people prepare a traditional “Dastarkhan” – a table full of hot meals, bakery goods and many other delicious products of holiday food. People traditionally open the doors of their houses waiting for guests. Everyone is supposed to visit neighborhood houses and taste the meals of “Dastarkhnan.”
Marking Navruz holiday, young men show their strength and agility competing with each other in wrestling, weight lifting or running. The old Zoroastrian tradition of jumping over the big blaze of fire is still very popular.
Over past five years Navruz has burgeoned into an International Holiday gaining high esteem worldwide.
As a result of the United Nations (UN) Sixty-fourth General Assembly Plenary, 71st Meeting from February 18, 2010, Navruz has been recognized as an International Holiday.
Today, Navruz is celebrated by more than 300 million people worldwide. The wave of Navruz celebrations has spread up to such countries as Tajikistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Albania and Iraq.