The beginning of Nowruz in the shadow of the coronavirus

Coronavirus was the main focus of Nowruz messages this year. In his message, Supreme Leader Khamenei said that 2019 began with a flood and ended with Coronavirus. Various countries congratulated the Iranian people on the arrival of Nowruz.

Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, congratulated the arrival of the 1399 solar year in a Nowruz message, calling it the year of “a leap in production.” He called 2019 a year of “difficult tests” and said, “No nation will get anywhere by simply seeking comfort and prosperity.” He emphasized that in the new year, “it must work tenfold to reach a point where it can have an impact on people’s lives.”

In his Nowruz message, Khamenei called the past year a "turbulent" period for Iran.

This year's Nowruz 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, the coronavirus disease claims one life every 10 minutes, and the number of deaths and infections is increasing day by day. 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 Ministry of Health spokesperson tweeted, urging people to make informed decisions about travel, movement, and Nowruz visits.

In part of his message, without mentioning the November 2019 protests, Khamenei mentioned the killing of Qassem Soleimani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Kerman incident, the plane crash, and the “health martyrs” in 2019, saying: “Various incidents such as earthquakes and sanctions occurred throughout the year, but the culmination of these incidents was the terrorist crime of America and the martyrdom of the famous general of Iran and Islam, Martyr Soleimani.”

Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, was killed in a US drone missile strike near Baghdad airport, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a commander of the Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah.

This year, many high-ranking officials from around the world sent Nowruz messages.

US Secretary of State's Nowruz message

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also congratulated the Iranian people on the arrival of Nowruz in a message. He emphasized in his message that the US offer of humanitarian assistance to the Iranian people remains in place.

In his Nowruz message on Twitter, the US Secretary of State wrote: "Nowruz is a time to come together and remember these blessings with family through visits and sharing meals. Unfortunately, as the coronavirus has affected many countries, including those that celebrate Nowruz, we must be more cautious in our visits this year."

He continued: "We are saddened by the news of the number of deaths from this virus, especially in Iran. We rejoice in the news of any recovery and share our hopes with the people of Iran and around the world that they can prevent the spread of this virus."

Israel sent a Nowruz message

The Israeli Foreign Ministry also sent a tweet congratulating the Iranian people on the arrival of Nowruz. The message reads: "The joy of the New Year is mixed with the sadness and pain of the bitter year that has passed. We wish you the best in this New Year, a year free from war and bloodshed, full of love and friendship, a year free from wishing death for others, a year of freedom and the victory of light over darkness."

The official account of the Israeli Foreign Ministry on social media also broadcast a similar Nowruz message in English. The message reads: "In these challenging times, as the Iranian people bravely confront the new coronavirus, we wish them a year of happiness and health."

World News

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) registered Nowruz as a World Heritage Site on October 29, 2009. At the suggestion of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the United Nations General Assembly, at its meeting on March 24 of the same year, recognized March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz and included it in its calendar.

After the registration of Nowruz, it was decided that the International Nowruz ceremony would be held every year in one of the countries within its cultural sphere.

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

Nowruz marks the beginning of the New Year in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan, which use the solar Hijri calendar. However, in Central Asian countries, the Caucasus, and Turkey, the Gregorian calendar is common, and Nowruz is celebrated as the beginning of spring and is not considered the beginning of the year.

Source: DW