Girls in national costume take part in the Nowruz celebrations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is usually celebrated on March 21. EPA
Kurds march with torches to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Qamishli, Hasakah province, Syria. AFP
Another Nowruz torchlit procession in Akre, northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Millions of people across the Middle East, Asia and eastern Europe celebrate the Persian New Year. AFP
Iraqi Kurds display their flag in Akre. Nowruz is an ancient Zoroastrian tradition celebrated by Iranians and Kurds, which coincides with the vernal equinox and is calculated using the solar calendar. AFP
A woman visits the shrine of St Sakhi Saib in Kabul to mark Nowruz. It is the most revered celebration in the greater Persian world, which includes Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, parts of western China and northern Iraq. EPA
Women sing at a Nowruz feast in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. EPA
Performers in traditional ethnic costume lead the celebrations in Bishkek. AFP
Colourful eggs, a symbol of Nowruz, for sale at a street market in Tehran on the eve of the Persian New Year. EPA
Goldfish are displayed at a flower market ahead of Nowruz in Tehran. Reuters
Iraqi Kurds celebrate Nowruz in Akre. AFP
Afghans gather around the shrine of St Sakhi Saib for Nowruz. EPA
A community cooks a giant vat of a traditional dish in Bishkek. Nowruz means 'the new year' in Farsi. AFP
