Nowruz
Nowruz , the Persian New Year, will be celebrated worldwide by the Iranians tomorrow. On this festival I am sharing a special article by Raman Thapar.
Happy Nowruz !
Nowruz (which literally means new day in Persian) is the
Iranian New Year also known as Persian New Year.It is celebrated worldwide by
Iranians along with some other ethno linguistic groups as the beginning of New
Year. Although having Iranian and religious Zoroastrian origins, Nowruz has been celebrated by people from
various diverse ethno linguistic communities. It has been celebrated for over
3000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia ,Caucasus, Black Sea Basin and the Balkans.
It is a secular holiday for most celebrants enjoyed by people of various faiths
but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.
Nowruz is the day of vernal equinox and marks the
beginning of spring in Northern Hemisphere. It marks the first day of the first
month(Farvardin) in the Iranian calendar. It usually occurs on Mar 21,a day
prior or later depending on where it is celebrated. The moment sun crosses the
celestial equator and equalises night and day,which is calculated every year
,it is time for families to begin rituals.
A Vivid description of Nowruz celebrations in the Courts
of Kings of Iran is found in Nowruznama (Book of New Year) attributed to Omar Khayyam a well
Known Persian Poet and mathematician. Before the collapse of Soviet Union, Iran
was the only country which officially observed the ceremonies of Nowruz. When
the Caucasian and Central Asian countries gained independence from Soviets they
also declared Nowruz as National Holiday.
The United Nations recognised the International Day of
Nowruz in 2010 describing it as a spring festival of Iranian origin. Nowruz is
officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity.
Iran issued a postage stamp during the First
International Nowruz celebrations in Tehran on 27 Mar 2010.
A set of Four stamps on flowers was released by Iran on
10 Mar 1984 on the occasion of Nowruz spring festivals. The Flowers on stamps
are Lotus, Tulip, Matthiola and glycyrrhizaglabra (Liquorice).
A set of four stamps and FDC issued by Iran on 09 Mar
1985 to celebrate Nowruz Spring Festival.
A set of Four stamps and FDC issued by Iran on 11 Mar
1986 to celebrate Nowruz Spring Festival. The stamps are on Poppy flowers of
Iran.
Papaver Orientale : The Oriental Poppy is a perennial
flowering plant native to Caucasus, North eastern turkey and Northern Iran. The
oriental poppies grow a mound of leaves that are hairy and finally dissected in
spring.They gather energy and bloom in mid summer.
Papaver bracteatum : It is also known as Iranian Poppy, Persian
Poppy and Great Scarlet Poppy. It is sturdy ,hardy perennial poppy with large
deep red flowers up to 8 inches dia on stiff stalks four feet high.
Anemone coronaria : Also known as Poppy anemone, Spanish
Marigold or Windflower native to Mediterranean region.
Anemon biflora : A small tuberous plant up to 10 cm tall.
A set of Four stamps and FDC issued by Iran on 11 Mar 1987 to celebrate Nowruz
Spring Festival. The stamps are on flowers of Iran.
Iris paradoxasteven
: Paradise of Iris
Iris persica : Persian Iris is a native plant of Iran
known for its beauty and fragrance
Tulips clusiana : The lady tulip is an Asian species of
tulip native to Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq ,Pakistan and Western Himalayas. It is
cultivated for its ornamental beauty.
Rosa damascena : Commonly known a Damask Rose or rose of
Castile is a hybrid rose. Flowers are renowned for fragrance and commercially
harvested for rose oil and used to make rose water. The petals are edible and
used to flavor food as garnish, herbal tea and preserved in sugar as Gulkand .
A stamp was issued on 25 Mar 2015 on Global Celebration
of Nowruz.
A Miniature sheet was issued by Iran on Global
Celebration of Nowruz on 24 March 2016 which shows flags of countries where Nowruz
is celebrated including India.
Nowruz in India – The Parsis in India known to be the largest Zoroastrian
Community celebrate the Persian New Year on Aug
. The Nowruz is celebrated in India and Pakistan almost 200 days later
because People in India follow the Shehanshahi Calendar while World marks
Persian New Year on the spring equinox.Shehanshahi calendar does not take into
account the leap years hence the difference.
Note : It is a pity that on the above Miniature sheet, incomplete map of India has been shown. The correct map of India is given below for Readers' kind reference.
Comments
I refer the Mini Sheet issued by Iran in 2016 showing global celebration of Nowruz, depicting maps of various countries, including India. We should strongly object India Map shown, wherein it Part of Kashmir shown in Pakistan and Easterm Part of India is cut from India.
-Avinash J. Anaokar
Goa
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