Celebration of Nowruz at UNESCO

Cultural events consisting of traditional dance and music from several countries celebrating Novruz, the spring festival.

The Nowruz, Nowruz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz - New Day - marks the New Year and the beginning of spring across a vast geographical area, including, among others, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey. It is generally celebrated by over 300 million people on March 21, the International Day proclaimed by the United Nations. It is on 18, 20 and 24 of March 2015 that music, traditional songs and dances from various countries will mark the celebration at the UNESCO House.

Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.