NEW YORK, March 24, 2011, Asia-Plus — An official ceremony dedicated to the International Navrouz Day took place at the UN Headquarters in New York on March 21.
We will recall that in September 2009, the UN”s cultural agency, UNESCO, inscribed Navrouz on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and on February 23, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized March 21 as the International Day of Navrouz.
This year, a roundtable entitled “Navrouz and Earth: Harmony of Culture and Nature” preceded the festive event.
Organized by the Permanent Missions of Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan to the United Nations, the meeting took place at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel in New York.
The roundtable brought together Tajik, Iranian and Afghan ambassadors to the United Nations, known orientalists and scholars of Iranian and Central Asian studies from the United States and Tajikistan such as Richard Nelson Frye, Parviz Morevej (phonetically spelled), Ellis Hansberger, Michael Berry and Akbar Tursonzod as well as known Afghan poet and writer Rafi Junaid.
A Tajik delegation headed by Minister of Culture Mirzoshorukh Asrori arrived in New York for participation in the event.
Ambassadors of Tajikistan (Sirojiddin Aslov), Iran (Mohammad Hazai) and Afghanistan (Zahir Tanin) addressed the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Tajik Minister of Culture Mirzoshorukh Asrori noted, “Tajik people have been inspired by the UN General Assembly resolution to recognize March 21 as the International Day of Navrouz.” “We consider this resolution as one of the most important steps towards international cooperation, dialogue between civilization and joining of all the peoples of the world,” Tajik minister said.
A special event on the occasion of the International Day of Navrouz was held at UN General Assembly Hall. Representatives of the United Nations and delegations of the UN member nations as well as various ethnic communities attended the event. Vijay K. Nambiar, UN Under-Secretary-General, read out UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the occasion of the International Day of Navrouz.
In his message, the UN Secretary-General, noted that Navrouz has special meaning for many peoples in the Balkans, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Celebrated for millennia, the holiday is associated with a rich tapestry of customs and rituals linked with the arrival of spring. “Now, with last year’s proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly of the International Day of Navrouz, the observance is global.” “Navrouz is a day for renewal. It is an opportunity to reflect on the intimate links between people and the natural world. And it carries a strong message of peace and harmony between peoples of all cultures on the basis of mutual respect and understanding.”
“These timeless values are at the heart of the mission of the United Nations, and are more relevant than ever as we grapple with such pressing global concerns as environmental degradation, human rights abuses, intolerance and armed conflict. So, I hope people everywhere will join in observing this Day. At a time of crisis, upheaval and change, including in the very regions where the holiday is rooted, let the spirit of Navrouz prevail,” the message said.
Tajik music group “Zulkhams” participated in a special concert that was held at the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York.
