Nowruz

The National
  • Kurds dressed in traditional outfits celebrate Nowruz (Noruz) in Qamishly in northeastern Syria on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
    Kurds dressed in traditional outfits celebrate Nowruz (Noruz) in Qamishly in northeastern Syria on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
  • Afghan boys and girls together celebrate the eve of Nowruz (Persian new year 1398) listening to live night music in a cafe in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: EPA
    Afghan boys and girls together celebrate the eve of Nowruz (Persian new year 1398) listening to live night music in a cafe in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: EPA
  • People buy traditional sweets at a Nowruz holiday market in Baku, Azerbaijan on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
    People buy traditional sweets at a Nowruz holiday market in Baku, Azerbaijan on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
  • Iranian girls hold numbers forming the New Year 1398, called Nowruz, on New Year eve in Tehran, Iran, 20 March 2019. Photo: EPA
    Iranian girls hold numbers forming the New Year 1398, called Nowruz, on New Year eve in Tehran, Iran, 20 March 2019. Photo: EPA
  • Kyrgyz horsemen participate in the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok-Boru (goat dragging), a competition held as part of the Navruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 18 March 2019. Kok-Boru is a game where players grab a goat carcass from the ground while riding their horses and try to score by placing it in their opponent's goal. Photo: EPA
    Kyrgyz horsemen participate in the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok-Boru (goat dragging), a competition held as part of the Navruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 18 March 2019. Kok-Boru is a game where players grab a goat carcass from the ground while riding their horses and try to score by placing it in their opponent's goal. Photo: EPA
  • Kyrgyz horsemen participate in the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok-Boru (goat dragging), a competition held as part of the Navruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 18 March 2019. Kok-Boru is a game where players grab a goat carcass from the ground while riding their horses and try to score by placing it in their opponent's goal. Photo: EPA
    Kyrgyz horsemen participate in the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok-Boru (goat dragging), a competition held as part of the Navruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on 18 March 2019. Kok-Boru is a game where players grab a goat carcass from the ground while riding their horses and try to score by placing it in their opponent's goal. Photo: EPA
  • An Iranian couple lights a lantern in a park in Tehran on March 19 2018 during the Wednesday Fire feast, or Chaharshanbeh Soori, held annually on the last Wednesday eve before the Spring holiday of Noruz. Photo: AFP
    An Iranian couple lights a lantern in a park in Tehran on March 19 2018 during the Wednesday Fire feast, or Chaharshanbeh Soori, held annually on the last Wednesday eve before the Spring holiday of Noruz. Photo: AFP
  • Kurds dressed in traditional outfits celebrate Nowruz (Noruz) in the Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishly in northeastern Syria on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
    Kurds dressed in traditional outfits celebrate Nowruz (Noruz) in the Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishly in northeastern Syria on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
  • Iraqi Kurdish people celebrate Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq. Photo: Reuters
    Iraqi Kurdish people celebrate Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq. Photo: Reuters
  • An Iraqi Kurdish woman poses for a photo as she celebrates Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters
    An Iraqi Kurdish woman poses for a photo as she celebrates Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters
  • Iraqi Kurdish people are seen up a mountain, as they celebrate Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters
    Iraqi Kurdish people are seen up a mountain, as they celebrate Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters
  • An Afghan man plays guitar as boys and girls together celebrate the eve of Nowruz in a downtown Kabul cafe. Photo: EPA
    An Afghan man plays guitar as boys and girls together celebrate the eve of Nowruz in a downtown Kabul cafe. Photo: EPA
  • Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 kilometres north of Baghdad. Photo: AFP
    Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 kilometres north of Baghdad. Photo: AFP
  • Iraqi Kurds celebrate Nowruz (Noruz), the Persian New Year, in town of Akra, 500 kilometres north of the capital Baghdad, on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
    Iraqi Kurds celebrate Nowruz (Noruz), the Persian New Year, in town of Akra, 500 kilometres north of the capital Baghdad, on March 20, 2019. Photo: AFP
  • Iranians shop at a street market for the New Persian Year called Nowruz on New Year eve in Tehran, Iran, 20 March 2019. Buying goldfish and flowers is one of the New Year traditions. Photo: EPA
    Iranians shop at a street market for the New Persian Year called Nowruz on New Year eve in Tehran, Iran, 20 March 2019. Buying goldfish and flowers is one of the New Year traditions. Photo: EPA
  • Fireworks explode over a mountain, during the celebrations of Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters
    Fireworks explode over a mountain, during the celebrations of Nowruz Day, a festival marking the first day of spring and the new year, in the town of Akra near Duhok, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photo: Reuters