Stamps on NOWRUZ

Stamp Digest wishes its readers on NOWRUZ -Persian New Year which started from 19 Mar 2024.

Nowruz (which literally means new day in Persian) is the Iranian New Year also known as Persian New Year.It is celebrated worldwide by Iranians along with some other ethno linguistic groups as the beginning of New Year.

Although having Iranian and religious Zoroastrian origins, Nowruz has been celebrated by people from various diverse ethno linguistic communities. It has been celebrated for over 3000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia ,Caucasus, Black Sea Basin and the Balkans. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants enjoyed by people of various faiths but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.

Nowruz is the day of  vernal equinox and marks the beginning of spring in Northern Hemisphere. It marks the first day of the first month(Farvardin) in the Iranian calendar. It usually occurs on Mar 21 ,a day prior or later depending on where it is celebrated. The moment sun crosses the celestial equator and equalises night and day,which is calculated every year ,it is time for families to begin rituals.

Azerbaijan issued a Miniature sheet to celebrate Nowruz on 12 Apr 2022

Water, Fire, Wind and Earth Tuesday signifying four Tuesdays are reflected on the ‘Novruz’ souvenir sheet. On the eve of the holiday, Water, Fire Wind and Earth Tuesdays are celebrated on the second days of each week in order.