International Day of Nowruz (Persian New Year) Aka Nauryz, Navruz, Nawrouz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Novruz and Nowrouz, this is an important and popular traditional festival celebrated on the spring equinox. Nowruz was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, at the joint initiative of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The festival has been observed for more than 3,000 years and marks the start of the new year in the Persian calendar. It is a time of renewal, hope and joy. A range of traditions and customs accompany the festival, including cleaning homes, planting new crops, sharing feasts and lighting bonfires. The fire represents purification of the earth, renewal of life and the sun. This day is one of the eleven holy days for the Baháʼí