Alwaght- Iranians in Iran and around the world have marked the ancient Nowruz (New Day) celebration that also marks the start of the springtime new year in the Persian calender.
The people normally celebrate at home, with members of family gathering around Haftsin Table and reciting Quran and sharing gifts.
In this time of year, the shopping centers are extremely crowded as people go shopping to embrace new year.
After celebrating the new year at home, people hit the road for trips that see them visiting parts of the country in a vacation that unofficially lasts for two weeks.
People in the new year days visit relatives, mainly the elders and share with them the joy of the "eid."
The vacations culminate in the Sizdah Bedar, or Nature's Day in which people take to nature.
The new year also marks a brilliant opportunity for tourism industry in the country. This year looks nearly normal in terms of popular visits as coronavirus is largely beaten in the country.
There is a prayer that is said at the Haft-sin Table. Part of its translation reads " Transform our circumstances to the best of circumstances."
The national TV airs the address of the Leader Sayed Ali Khamenei during which he shares the good feeling of the new year with the nation and also reveals the "slogan of the year" which almost draws the lines of the government policy path for new year.
This year was named "Production: Knowledge-Based and Job-Creating.”
For the past three years, the Leader has been emphasizing the importance of domestic production and technology.
There is also an address by the president who reports what has been done over the past year and would be done in the year to come.
The Nowruz is also celebrated in West Asia, Caucasus, Europe, and the US by Iranians, Persian-speaking people, and the people that share historical roots with ancient Iran.
