WASHINGTON, March 20, 2012, Asia-Plus – A festive reception dedicated to Navrouz took place in Washington at the end of last week.
The event was held in the Hall of the Americas at the historical building of the Organization of American States. Some 500 guests – chiefs of diplomatic missions, congressmen, researchers as well as art figures and representatives of ethnic diasporas – attended the event.
Mr. Farhod Salim, Charge d’Affaires, Tajik Embassy in Washington, read out a special address by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to the event participants and activists of Nowruz Commission that propagates humanistic ideas of Navrouz in the United States.
Nowruz Commission, an alliance of twelve cultures who celebrate Navrouz on the first day of Spring at the exact moment of vernal equinox as the beginning of a new year, notes that it was its third annual gala event in Washington.
According information posted on Nowruz Commission’s website, U.S. President George W. Bush, and First Lady Laura Bush celebrated Navrouz at the White House for the first time in history on March 19, 2008. Guests at this event represented people of many cultures who recognize and celebrate Navrouz around the world. Among the guests were then newly arrived Ambassador of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov accompanied by his wife Nurilla as well as the highest ranking Iranian American in the United States Government, The Honorable Bijan R. Kian and his wife Gissou. Ambassador Idrissov and Director Kian talked about the formation of a multi ethnic commission with representation from all countries who recognize and celebrate Navrouz. The purpose of the Commission was to keep this time tested, revered, universal tradition alive and to educate the greater communities in the United States about the significance of Navouz and the Spirit of Spring.
Two years later on January 26, 2010 Ambassador Idrissov and The Honorable Bijan Kian together with Mr. Nasser Kazeminy, chairman of the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations at Ellis Island co-founded The Nowruz Commission.
Today, International Navrouz Day is celebrated at the United Nations headquarters in News York. During the next week, the Festival of Spring will be celebrated by Tajik Diasporas in Washington, Denver, Omaha, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and other cities of the United States.
