Overview

• Nowruz, meaning 'new day' in Persian, is celebrated annually on the vernal equinox, marking the arrival of spring and the start of the Persian New Year.
• The festival, rooted in Zoroastrian traditions, is observed by over 300 million people across countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, as well as by Parsis, Bahais, and Kurds.
• Key customs include setting up the symbolic Haft Sin table, spring cleaning, visiting family, sharing meals, and wearing new clothes to symbolize renewal and hope.
• The 13-day festival concludes with Sizdah Bedar on April 1, a day of outdoor gatherings that symbolizes the release of negativity and embracing nature.
• Global leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, extended Nowruz greetings, emphasizing themes of unity and goodwill during this time of celebration.