Nowroz “New Day”, originally (“New Light”) is the name of the New Year in Afghan/Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Nowroz is also widely referred to as the Afghan or Persian New Year.

Nowroz is celebrated and observed by Afghan & Iranian peoples and the related cultural continent and has spread in many other parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea and some groups in the Balkans.

Nowroz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Afghan & Iranian calendars. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Afghans & Iranians, the same time is celebrated in the Indian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.

The UN’s General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Nowroz, describing it a spring festival of Afghan & Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. During the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held between September 28th – October 2nd 2009 in Abu Dhabi, Nowroz was officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.