Nowruz, which means ‘new day,’ celebrates spring and nature’s rebirth. Rituals, ceremonies, cultural activities, a special lunch with loved ones, new attire, visits to family and friends, and the exchanging of presents, especially for children, all part of the celebration.
The Embassy of Iran in Brunei Darussalam celebrated Nowruz at Iranian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Homeira Rigi Zirouki’s residence on Tuesday.
Permanent Secretary (Sports) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, foreign envoys and the Iranian community attended the celebration.
The event saw Iranian students present the Nowruz customs and culture, including buying sweets and new clothing, house cleaning, and it’s music and symbols to the audience.
The ambassador then distributed eidi (cash envelopes) to the children at the event while visitors were served Iranian food and beverages.
Nowruz, celebrated for over 3,000 years across the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East, emphasises peace, solidarity, reconciliation and neighbourliness.
Nowruz was inscribed in 2009 under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and extended in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the joint initiative of the Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
In 2010, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed the ‘International Day of Nowruz’ in its resolution to encourage member nations to promote the festival and hold yearly celebrations.
