Turkic countries welcome Nevruz festival marking arrival of spring

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkic countries on Tuesday welcomed festivities surrounding Nevruz, marking the arrival of spring through various forms of celebrations.

Dance and theater performances, in addition to folk dances and concerts of famous artists, were observed in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, while the leaders of most of these states addressed their people and celebrated their Nevruz festival.

Welcoming the festivities at a solemn ceremony, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated his nation’s Nevruz holiday during a speech at the New Uzbekistan Park in the capital Tashkent.

Mirziyoyev said they are “selflessly working to build a New Uzbekistan," for "a society and state where people live freely, independently, and prosperously.”

“May the season bring peace and prosperity, and happiness to every family, every neighborhood, and our country,” he also said.

Noting that the festivities are also taking place on the eve of the holy month of Ramadan, Mirziyoyev congratulated Muslims in Uzbekistan and the entire Islamic community on the occasion.

“I wish that our good deeds in this divine month will be accepted and our good and pure intentions will be answered,” Mirziyoyev further said.

During celebrations in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated his nation's Nevruz and Ramadan.

“This year, the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan coincides with Nevruz. May all the thoughts of those who fast during Eid come true! May peace and prosperity come to our homes! May the Nevruz holiday bring us only happiness and joy,” Tokayev said.

He further noted that they must care about the country’s youth and create good conditions for them to contribute to the development of Kazakhstan.

“Kazakhs say that strength is in unity. If we maintain unity and accord in our society, we will achieve our key goal of building a fair Kazakhstan. We need to unite to achieve this common goal,” Tokayev said.

Separately, speaking at a ceremony in the Ala-Too Square in the capital Bishkek, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov also celebrated the Nevruz festivities and congratulated his people as well.

“From the bottom of my heart, I congratulate everyone on the Nevruz holiday -- the day of renewal and striving for a new life,” Japarov said in an address.

Noting that Nevruz is associated with the interweaving of “hope with clear goals, tireless work, strong and inseparable unity,” Japarov further said these are the results of national unity and stability in society.

“May the holiday, symbolizing spring, renewal, and a bright life, give us hope and give strength to new achievements for the sake of our motherland,” he concluded.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev on Saturday lit a Nevruz fire in Shusha, the symbol city of Karabakh liberated last year from Armenian occupation, during an address.

"Today we're celebrating Nevruz in our ancient city Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. This is a historic event, this is a great happiness," Aliyev said, noting: "Today, while celebrating Nevruz in Jidir Duzu (plain), I proudly say, Shusha, you are free! Shusha is Azerbaijan! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!"

Meanwhile, Turkmenistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Aksoltan Atayeva participated in a solemn event organized in New York, at the initiative of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Nevruz falls on March 21 and has been celebrated for more than 18 centuries across Anatolia and Asia.

The spring festival is celebrated mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, India, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Albania, and Macedonia.