Nowruz International Festival in "Old Town" in Baku

Nowruz (Novruz, Nawruz, etc.) is from the Persian meaning "The New Day" and marks the New Year. This holiday falls to the first day of the spring or Equinox, and usuall celebrates in March 20-21 depending upon the country and region. 

Having been the very local at present this holiday is widely celebrated in many countries such as Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, etc. Even it is celebrated in countries far from the Islam religion though Nowruz has no relations with islam. Nowrus is celebrated by peple from various ethis communities and religious for thousands yers. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.   

In 2009 the UNESCO had oficially registered Nowruz in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2010 the UN General Assembly recognized the International Day of Nowruz  and declared it as a Spring Festival. 

In Azerbaijann the holiday of Nowruz is one of the most popular holidays. It is celebrated over the cuntry with songs, dances, traditional music, festivals, fairs, and the bonfires made every Tuesday during four weeks before the holiday starts. Every Tuesday simbolizes a nature element: Water, Fire, Air, Soil. Also there is a tradition to knock the door and put a cap for getting the traditional sweets, candies and fruits.

In Baku the holiday of Nowruz is traditionally celebrates in "Icherishekher" - the Old Town. It is the place close to sea and surrounded by old wall. In Old Town there is a lot of gift shops, old houses, and the main symbol - the Maiden Tower (Giz Galasi).  

From the very morning the shop owners begin to sell the gifts and souvenirs. This year the main gift was colorful skullcaps.



Some owners place their goods just in front of the door...

...and also sit there.

Through the star.

"Try walking in my shoes"

Jar and pillows.

In Old Town there are many ancient places such as tombs, caravan-serais, mosques. Also, during the last years some parts of the Old Town were reconstructed and many interesting things had been installed over the territory. 

The salesman of gifts.  

Also you can buy the colorful silk scarf and kerchief withe traditional ornaments.

Everything must be clean!

Sometimes the shops can offer you amazing things like big "samovar". 

Now we approach the central square where the main performance occurs. You can meet the "Dada Gorgut", the legendary Turkic songster and composer in IX century. The legends concerning Dada Gorgut can be found in al Turkic nations.

Or, if you suffer from cold weather you can buy a typical Caucasian sheepskin cap.

As it was mentioned above, Nowruz is celebrated in many countries. And their delegations come to to Nowruz International Festival in Baku, where they have their pavilions decorated in national style. 

Here is the fragment of the Iranian pavilion.

According to Nowruz traditions, in some regions, mostly in Iran, the table should contain seven items starting with "S". Here you can see the Sarimsag - garlic, which symbolizes the health, Sumac - sumac berried, which symbolizes the patience, Sirkah - vinegar, symbolizes the development and evolution. 

At pavilion of Kyrgyzstan

And again the skullcaps. 

Various colors and ornaments.

Don't like the caps? Try the shoes!

Or, select from different gifts and souvenirs made in Azeri style with traditional ornaments and elements that will remain you Baku and Azerbaijan.

Business. 

As at any festival there are a lot of children. This girl had drawn a picture of tulip and her mother demonstrates it to camera man.

What the festival without music and dances?!

Singer from Turkey.

As it usually happens in Baku, the weather in March is very uncertain. The rain suddenly started and stopped several times.

"Kechal" and "Kosa" - the personages of folk tales and herous of Nowruz.

"Ask me" service. Young girls and boys help the tourists. 

The obligatory selfie and images in social networks.

Of course, sometimes it is difficult to fill the atmosphere of the holiday looking just at the pictures. So, the best way is to come to Azerbaijan and experience the spirit of the old holiday - Nowruz.