H.E. Dr Alireza Jahangiri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the OPCW during his speech also on the picture from left to right H.E. Mr. Ahmet Uzumcu, Director-General of the OPCW, Permanent Representatives to the OPCW from the embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Homayoon Azizi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamoni, Ambassador of the Republic of India.
By Youri Moes.
Nowruz, the new year of the Persian people is celebrated every year on the 21st of March, and sees families coming together around a traditional meal. The Persian people have done this for almost 3000 years and their traditions and celebrations are still extraordinary events.
Nowruz, celebrated on March 21, or a day before/after marks the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year, and families gather together to observe the rituals of the beginning of spring.
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During Nowruz families eat dishes like Sabzeh, Samanu, Seer, Seeb and Somāq. All of these dishes have meaning, being metaphors for rebirth, vitality and light overcoming darkness. These dishes and their meanings go back thousands of years.
These traditions are so impactful and meaningful to so many people, that Nowruz was placed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, and the United Nations made the 21st of March as International Nowruz Day.
Just like how Nowruz unites families and brings friends together, similarly it brings together Persian people from all over the world. This year in the headquarters of the OPCW, was no exception, with ambassadors from countries with large Persian populations coming together and celebrating a Nowruz feast together.
The Embassy of Iran co-hosted the celebration with the embassies of India, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan all OPCW Member States at the headquarters of the global organization in The Hague.
H.E. Dr Alireza Jahangiri, ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran made a speech discussing the meaning of the celebration, and the role it has in the modern world. Dr. Jahangiri went on to say, “(Nowruz) promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighborliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.”
The spirit of neighborliness was obviously alive and well, with ambassadors from India H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamoni, from Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Magzhan Ilyassov and Afghanistan H.E. Dr. Homayoon Azizi all being present to celebrate the feast.
Together with his international colleagues Dr. Jahangiri went on to say, “Nowruz is an ancient celebration that predates today’s borders and divisions. It is a reminder that national boundaries and other superficial differences are not as important as our common humanity. Nowruz is a perfect example of unity in diversity.”
We can only hope that our common humanity carries through to the next Nowruz.
