Nowruz 2022: Know about the traditions, celebrations and food
Even though Nowruz, or the Iranian New Year, was celebrated on March 20 this year, the International Day of Nowruz is celebrated on March 21 annually. The 3,000-year-old festival marks the start of the spring season and is celebrated by the Parsi community across the world. The celebrations continue for 13 days with lots of food, house cleaning, and family and friends.
History of Nowruz celebrations
According to Iranian mythology, Persian ruler Jamshed is believed to have founded the festival of Nowruz. Ancient tales suggest that when a winter apocalypse intended to kill people, Jamshed protected the world from it. When the Earth healed during the spring season, the king marked the time as the start of the new year or new beginnings for the people.
About Scarlet Wednesday: A Nowruz event
According to legends, when spring finally arrived, King Jamshed was stunned to see the aggressive behavior of his subjects over the dark, long winter months. So, he started Scarlet Wednesday or Chaharshanbe Suri to cleanse people of evil and say goodbye to the darkness. Celebrated on the last Wednesday before Nowruz, the festival involves joining your hands and jumping over the fire.
In which countries is Nowruz celebrated?
Nowruz is celebrated all across the world with pomp and gaiety. It is widely celebrated across Iran, India, Afghanistan, Turkey, parts of Central Asia, and Iraq by Parsis, Shias, Kurds, and Iranis. It is also celebrated in Europe and the United States of America by the Iranian communities. It is commemorated as the Persian New Year in Phoenix, Arizona.
How do people celebrate Nowruz?
During this religious festival, Parsi people clean their homes and decorate them with flowers. They also shop for new traditional clothes before the arrival of the festival. It is important to speak kind words and do good deeds on this day. Visiting the Fire Temple on this day is a must. Other fun events on this day include traditional sports, poetry readings, music, etc.
Traditional Nowruz dishes
The celebrations of Nowruz are incomplete without some delicious and traditional Iranian dishes. Popular traditional Nowruz dishes include Sali Boti, Saffron Pulao, Akoori, Patra Ni Macchi, Falooda, Ravo, and Akoori. Sabzi polo ba mahi is consumed on the first day of the auspicious festival. Other popular Nowruz foods include Samanu, Kuku Sabzi, Senjed, Ajil, and Narwiz Koje, a traditional Nowruz drink.
