President Ilham Aliyev has issued a congratulatory message to the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Novruz holiday.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the message reads:
"Dear compatriots! I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the Novruz holiday and wish each of you health, happiness, and success in your endeavors.
Novruz, which has ancient roots in the land of Azerbaijan, is a sacred gift from our ancestors to current generations. For centuries, this dear holiday has been an integral part of our national mindset and has made a special contribution to the formation of our cultural values. Novruz ceremonies embody the optimistic worldview of our people, their endless love for nature, high moral standards, and brightest dreams for the future in all their richness.
It is a service of the Azerbaijani people to their honorable history that they have protected Novruz traditions from foreign influences, successfully passed them through the tests of time, and kept them alive to this day. As a treasure of high human qualities and deep spirituality, Novruz is among the valuable examples of world cultural heritage and is celebrated today in every corner of our Motherland with festivities in accordance with customs that have left a mark on the memory of centuries.
I am sure that the refreshing atmosphere of the spring season will further increase our enthusiasm to build our future in accordance with our dreams, and with our determination, we will turn our ancestral lands, which we have liberated, into a place of beauty under a clear sky.
May the upcoming Novruz holiday fill your hearts with light, grant you all a pleasant spring mood, and bring peace, prosperity, and abundance to your homes. Happy holidays!"
Novruz, the Persian New Year, marks the vernal equinox and the arrival of spring, symbolizing rebirth and the renewal of nature. In Azerbaijan, the holiday is celebrated with unique traditions, including the four Tuesdays leading up to the main event, each dedicated to one of the elements: water, fire, earth, and air. The holiday was officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, recognizing its importance in promoting values of peace and solidarity.
