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Navruz,
meaning ‘new day’, is a spring festival rooted in
the Zoroastrian tradition, celebrated across Central Asia for
at least 2,500 years. Held on 21st March, around the time of
the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere when the number
of daylight and night time hours are equal, the day symbolises
balance and marks the new year, when the powers of light overcome
the powers of darkness.
I joined in Navruz celebrations in the village of Pista Mazor,
close to the Afghan border of Tajikistan, in spring 2007. The
21st was a day filled with feasting, music, dancing, shared
by the whole village. This was followed by a 13 day holiday,
given over to visiting family, forgiving debts, spring cleaning,
dressing in bright colours, sewing seeds, collecting the new
season’s herbs and cooking special Navruz dishes with
them… |
