Nowruz Begins in the Shadow of Coronavirus

Coronavirus was the main focus of this year’s Nowruz messages. Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, said in his message that year 98 began with floods and ended with coronavirus. Various countries congratulated the Iranian people on the arrival of Nowruz.

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, congratulated the arrival of the solar year 1399 in a Nowruz message and called it the year of “production surge.” He called year 98 a year of “difficult trials” and said: “No nation can reach anywhere through mere comfort-seeking and indulgence.” He emphasized that in the new year, “production must increase tenfold in a way that affects people’s lives.”

Khamenei described the past year as a “turbulent” period for Iran in his Nowruz message.

Nowruz this year began in the shadow of the global coronavirus crisis. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases, and according to the Ministry of Health’s information, the coronavirus disease takes one person’s life every 10 minutes, and the number of deaths and cases is increasing daily. According to official statistics one day before the new year, more than 18,407 people in Iran were infected with coronavirus and 1,284 people died.

The Health Ministry spokesman sent a tweet asking people to make informed decisions about travel, mobility, and visiting and getting together during Nowruz.

In part of his message, Khamenei, without referring to the November 98 protests, remembered the killing of Qasem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Kerman incident, the airplane incident, and “health martyrs” in year 98, saying: “Throughout the year, various incidents such as earthquakes and sanctions occurred, but the peak of these events was America’s terrorist crime and the martyrdom of the distinguished commander of Iran and Islam, Shahid Soleimani.”

Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, was killed along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, one of the commanders of the Iraqi Hezbollah militias, in a U.S. drone missile strike near Baghdad airport.

This year too, many high-ranking world officials sent Nowruz messages.

U.S. Secretary of State’s Nowruz Message

Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, also congratulated the arrival of Nowruz in a message. In his message, he emphasized that the offer of American humanitarian assistance to the Iranian people remains standing.

The U.S. Secretary of State wrote in his Nowruz message on Twitter: “Nowruz is a time to gather together and remind ourselves of these blessings with family through visiting and sharing meals. Unfortunately, since the coronavirus has affected many countries, including those that celebrate Nowruz, this year we must be more careful in our visits and gatherings.”

He continued: “We are saddened by reports of deaths caused by this virus, particularly in Iran. We are pleased by any report of recovery and we share our hopes with the people of Iran and the world that they can prevent the spread of this virus.”

Israel Sent a Nowruz Message

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also congratulated the Iranian people on the arrival of Nowruz by sending a tweet. The message states: “The joy of the new year is mixed with the sorrow and pain of the bitter year that has passed. In this new year we have the best wishes for you: a year free from war and bloodshed, filled with love and friendship, a year free from wishing death for others, a year of freedom and the victory of light over darkness.”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry’s official social media account also released a similar Nowruz message in English, which stated: “In this challenging time, as the people of Iran courageously face the new coronavirus, we wish them a year filled with joy and health.”

Global Nowruz

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) registered Nowruz as a world heritage on October 8, 2009. At the suggestion of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the United Nations General Assembly recognized March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz in its session on February 23 of that year and included it in its calendar.

After the registration of Nowruz, it was decided that the global Nowruz ceremony would be held annually in one of the countries in its cultural region.

Nowruz is celebrated in various forms in 38 countries including Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

In countries like Iran and Afghanistan that use the solar Hijri calendar, Nowruz is the first day of the new year. However, in Central Asian, Caucasian, and Turkish countries, the Gregorian calendar is common, and Nowruz is celebrated as the beginning of spring and is not considered the first day of the year.

Source: DW