Iranian, Azerbaijani Border Guards Hold Joint Celebration of Nowruz

"The joint ceremony of the border guards shows the deep joint cultural roots, peace, friendship and fraternity between the two countries," said Commander of Iranian Border Guard Brigadier-General Qassem Rezayee in the ceremony.

“Iran and Azerbaijan have historical and religious relations and commonalities; and the joint commemoration of Nowruz has a big message for the world, and that is the interaction, friendship and fraternity between the two countries are eternal.”

Colonel General Elchin Isa oglu Guliyev, the Chief of State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic, said in the ceremony that the two nations enjoy the same interests and cultural roots and holding such ceremonies can make the countries closer to each other than before and that joint commemoration of Nowruz can be a successful example of good friendly ties between neighbors.

Also today, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani cabled separate messages to the leaders and heads of states in those countries of the region which celebrate traditional Nowruz rituals, wishing for the nations’ success and prosperity in the New Year on the Persian Calendar.

President Rouhani felicitated the beginning of spring and the Persian New Year to the leaders of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq and Uzbekistan.

In the messages, the Iranian president voiced hope for a year of serenity, kindness, and prosperity, adding, “I hope that we, too, as statesmen, will be able to bring peace and unbreakable unity among nations with the arrival of the spring, and gift our people more prosperity and advancement.”

Rouhani further wished the people of regional countries a year full of hope, happiness and success.

Nowruz, which coincides with the first day of spring on the solar calendar (this year started on March 21), is mostly celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

The International Day of Nowruz was registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on February 23, 2010.

For Iranians, Nowruz is a celebration of renewal and change, a time to visit relatives and friends, and pay respect to senior family members.

Iranians welcome the New Year by wearing new clothes and setting the Haft Seen, a table containing seven data-x-items starting with the letter 'S'; Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanu (sweet wheat paste), Senjed (jujube), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Serkeh (vinegar) and Somaq (sumac).

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