Nowruz removes the religious, cultural, lingual and national boundaries and connects the hearts of millions of people who want to take part in a unique and unparalleled ceremony marking not only the beginning of the New Year, but the end of a harsh winter and the arrival of the delightful spring. It’s not simply a source of honor for Iranians who observe and celebrate it, but an opportunity for the congregation and solidarity of all the peace-loving nations around the world. As Nowruz comes immediately after the winter ends, Iranians believe it is an important event as a feast of rebirth and rejuvenation that resuscitates new life into the frosty and frozen nature. Nowruz is considered the most important national holiday in Iran. It marks the beginning of a new solar year and the arrival of spring. According to the Persian calendar, it begins exactly at the moment when the center of the Sun is in the same plane as the Earth’s equator and the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun. Although the holiday signifies the commencement of the vernal equinox, which starts on March 20 or 21, it doesnt always start at the same time; the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is different every year. And that’s the beauty of Nowruz– it starts on a unique moment each time, and people excitedly and breathlessly wait for the announcement of what is known as transition point of the year. The timing is astronomically and mathematically calculated according to the Jalali solar calendar in a precise manner and officially inaugurates the New Year. Some history experts believe that Nowruz has been enshrined and observed for more than 15,000 years, even before the official establishment of the Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great ascended the throne as the first king of the Persian Empire in 550 BC, but Nowruz was celebrated almost 2000 years before him in provinces that currently constitute the modern countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Pakistan, Iraq and parts of India and Turkey.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 16:30:56 +0000
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