On March 21 CSTO States Celebrate Nowruz

Nowruz, the arrival of spring, is a public holiday in many countries. At the state level, it is celebrated in the CSTO Member States of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as in other countries around the world.

 

On September 30, 2009, UNESCO included Nowruz in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since then, March 21 has been declared as the International Day of Nowruz.

 

In his congratulatory address, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, said that the profound philosophical content of this holiday “teaches us to always remember the good, be grateful for the help we receive and live in harmony with people and nature.”

 

“Nauryz is a holiday of unity and harmony. The great Abai has such lines: ‘In the spring the auls came together at a nomad camp, the relatives embraced, sharing joy. And acquaintances simply, joking and laughing, gathered to talk about everything’,” President Tokayev said.

 

Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, congratulated the Kyrgyz people on the holiday of Nooruz.

 

“This holiday brings new energy of creation into our lives and gives us the strength for growth and development,” President Japarov said.

 

On this day, Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, wished that “this spring and the radiant Nowruz celebration always bring joy and happiness, new accomplishments and achievements, fertility, fruitfulness and abundance to our heaven-like country.”

 

Nowruz is one of the oldest festivals on Earth and has been known since pre-Zoroastrian times: it was celebrated even before the 7th century B.C.