The gifted Iranian guest artist Pendar Yousefi developed a specially designed Google Doodle for Google to commemorate “International Nowruz Day 2024” on Tuesday. Pendar’s goal was to use his artwork to greet the arrival of spring by capturing the essence of his happy childhood Nowruz experiences.
Over 300 million people worldwide celebrate Nowruz, which is the Farsi term for “new day” and is sometimes referred to as the Iranian or Persian New Year. Nowruz, an ancient celebration with Zoroastrian roots, comes on or around the spring equinox, usually between March 19 and March 21. It also marks the start of the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar. The Silk Road nations of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are among those that typically celebrate the holiday.
DATE AND TIMING OF NOWRUZ 2024
The Persian New Year, known as Nowruz (also spelled Norooz or Nowrooz), falls on the first day of the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, it will fall on a Wednesday, March 20, 2024, with Tehran, Iran marking the precise time of the vernal equinox at 6:36 AM. Nonetheless, the United Nations emphasizes the cultural significance and widespread observance of Nowruz by designating March 21st as the International Day of Norooz. As the celebration of Nowruz transcends borders and time, here are some specific timings for Norooz 2024 in different locations:
1 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: March 20, 2024, at 9:06 AM
2 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: March 20, 2024, at 8:06 AM
3 Tirana, Albania: March 20, 2024, at 4:06 AM
4 Tbilisi, Georgia: March 20, 2024, at 7:06 AM
5 Baghdad, Iraq: March 20, 2024, at 7:06 AM
6 Damascus, Syria: March 20, 2024, at 6:06 AM
India will celebrate Nowruz on two occasions in 2024 because of disparate calendar traditions. According to the Solar Hijri calendar, the first celebration will occur on March 20, 2024, in line with the worldwide observance of Nowruz on the spring equinox.
Due to the Shahenshahi calendar’s lack of leap years, the Parsi community in India has the unusual custom of celebrating two New Years. The second celebration is set for August 15, 2024.
HISTORY OF NOWRUZ
Celebrated on the spring equinox, Nowruz, the Persian New Year, has been observed for over 3,000 years, stemming from Zoroastrianism in ancient Persia, or Iran. 300 million people celebrate Norooz worldwide, a holiday that is significant throughout Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia.
This day marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the rebirth of the natural world. According to UNESCO, this event heralds the entrance of spring and carries deep spiritual significance, signifying the triumph of good over evil and happiness over sorrow.
The festival is well-known for emphasizing harmony, unity, and respect for diverse cultures in an effort to unite people. The International Day of Norooz was formally recognized by the UN in 2010, which strengthened the UN’s position as a catalyst for cross-cultural dialogue and world peace.
Customs that date back centuries include dancing, gift-exchanging, fire-and-water ceremonies, and more. The haft-sin custom, in which families painstakingly arrange seven symbolic objects signifying rebirth and vigor, is the focal point of the celebrations.
