KHOROG, March 19, 2010, Asia-Plus — Navrouz, a historical tradition symbolizing the beginning of the New Year, is celebrated widely throughout Tajikistan through traditional songs, dances, theatrical performances, and authentic Tajik cuisine. Each of regions of Tajikistan has its cultural features to celebrate Navrouz.
In Gorno Badakhshan, Navrouz is very old traditional holiday and one of the biggest annual festivals. Local residents call Navrouz “Khidir Ayom” (Great Holiday).
In Gorno Badakhshan, families begin preparations for Navrouz on March 18. Families in Ishkashim, Rushan, Roshtqala and Shugnan districts clean their houses, cook some special food and visit all neighbors.
The house cleaning ritual is called “chidirthed.” Early in the morning, head of family takes a red-colored carpet out of the house and then members of the family take out all things that must be ventilated. After that, they clean the house. The sense of this ritual is not only in cleaning house, this ritual also symbolizes cleansing house of evil spirits.
Upon completion of house cleaning, families cook authentic Pamiris cuisine such as “noshkhukhpa,” “bat,”, “noni roughan,” “osh,” “amoch,” etc.
Children with twigs of non-fruit trees (primarily willow) in their hands are the first to enter cleaned house by words “Shogun Bahor Muborak” (Let spring – the beginning of the New Year – bring you happiness); they are followed by other family members and housewife puts a handful of flour on right shoulder of each of them in token of good life in the new year.
In the evening, children visit neighbors congratulating them on the holiday and each of them receives any sweets.
