Novruz holiday was solemnly celebrated at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris co-organized by the Permanent Delegations of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Iraq, India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to the organization.
In his opening remarks, Kazakhstan's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Askar Abdrakhmanov spoke of Novruz holiday and its spiritual significance.
Then, Deputy Director General of UNESCO Xing Qu congratulated the event participants on behalf of the Director General of the organization, Audrey Azoulay. Noting that Novruz holiday reflects universal values such as peace and solidarity, Xinq Qu described it as an example of national identity passed from generation to generation.
Addressing the event, Azerbaijan's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Elman Abdullayev informed the guests about the traditions of celebrating Novruz holiday in the country.
The event also featured performances of national music and dance samples of the organizing countries. Talented Azerbaijani musician living in France Saddam Novruzbeyov delighted the guests with national music on the clarinet.
Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Novruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.
