New York, Mar 22 (IBNS) The Persian spring festival of Nowruz celebrates not just the diversity and unity of cultures, but is also a reminder to protect the environment, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday, adding that this holiday offers a chance to reflect on the beauty of nature.
"Nowruz does more than bring countries together; it reminds us to cherish the planet we share," Mr. Ban said in his message for the International Day of Nowruz. "By highlighting the beauty of nature and the renewal of springtime, Nowruz can inspire celebrants and onlookers alike to practice greater environmental stewardship."
Originating in Iran´s ancient history, Nowruz is celebrated by more than 300 million people worldwide on 21 March, the day of the spring equinox, which marks the sun´s crossing of the Equator and the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
For more than three millennia, people in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East, among other regions, have observed Nowruz through their own special traditions.