Persian New Year is widely celebrated across nations including Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian countries.
As today marks the first day of spring, Iranians and people of Persian heritage around the world begin to welcome a season of renewal. The air is filled with anticipation as one of the globe’s oldest and most cherished festivals prepares to unfold: Nowruz, or “New Day,” a celebration that marks the dawn of the Persian New Year.
Nowruz, though now secular in nature, carries the echoes of ancient Persia and the Zoroastrian faith, once the dominant belief system of the region. Today, Zoroastrianism is practiced by a small yet resilient community of 100,000 to 200,000 people worldwide. For over 3,000 years, the festival has been intertwined with the rhythms of nature, celebrated with the vernal equinox that occurs around March 20 or 21.
From the bustling streets of Tehran to the vibrant markets of Azerbaijan, the festivity extends across borders—from Afghanistan to the Kurdish regions of Iraq, Turkey, and Syria, reaching into parts of Central Asia. A time when the earth stirs and life begins anew, Nowruz transcends cultural and national lines, reminding us all of the shared hopes for renewal and growth as the seasons shift.
According to Mizan Online News Agency, some 75,000 to 110,000 Iranians currently reside in Qatar.
Nowruz customs and traditions
Khaneh tekani
Before the celebration of the New Year, it is customary for people to clean their homes thoroughly, symbolising the removal of old, negative energy and making room for the fresh energy of the new year. This tradition is called khaneh tekani, meaning “shaking the house.”
Chaharshanbe Suri (Fire Jumping)
On the last Wednesday evening before the Persian New Year, people celebrate Chaharshanbe Suri, literally meaning Scarlet Wednesday.
It is the first festivity of Nowruz, and includes a tradition where those celebrating jump over bonfires. This tradition is considered a purification practice, believed to cleanser the soul, banish bad luck, and bring health and prosperity in the coming year.
While jumping, people sing “sorkhi-ye to az man, zardi-ye man az to,” meaning “[let] your redness [be] mine, my paleness yours.”
Haft-Sin display
One of the most cherished Nowruz traditions is the haft-sin display, a symbolic arrangement of seven items, each starting with the Persian letter “s.” These items represent various facets of life, nature, and the hopes and dreams for the upcoming year.
A typical haft-sin table includes sabzeh (sprouted greens), symbolizing rebirth and growth; seer (garlic), representing health and healing; samanu (sweet wheat pudding), which stands for strength and power; seeb (apple), representing beauty and health; senjed (dried oleaster fruit), a symbol of love; and serkeh (vinegar), which represents aging and wisdom.
Some displays also feature eggs, which, according to Iranian student Nazanin Towhidkhah, signify fertility and the renewal of life.
Additional items can be included, such as a mirror, candles, coins, hyacinth flowers, and a holy book—either the Quran or the Divān of Hafez, a collection of poems by the renowned Iranian poet Hafez.
Nowruz is also marked by a feast of special foods, which vary by region but commonly include sabzi polo (herbed rice with fish), kuku sabzi (Persian omelette), and sweets like baklava and saffron cookies. These dishes symbolize abundance, fertility, and the joy that the new year brings.
Nowruz, from Doha to Tehran
28-year-old Towhidkhah was unable to return home to Iran from Doha this Nowruz due to university commitments, relying on technology to stay connected to her roots and celebrations.
“This year, I couldn’t go back home because of my university schedule. Instead, I FaceTimed my family and celebrated with them virtually. Spending time with loved ones is one of the most important aspects of Nowruz,” Towhidkhah shared with Doha News.
As Nowruz is celebrated by communities across the regions once part of the Persian Empire, customs vary from country to country. “Different nations come together to celebrate, even though we all have our own ways of doing it. It’s such a beautiful celebration, and it’s interesting to see how each community celebrates differently,” Towhidkhah explained.
Not all cultures include a haft-sin, as some do not have the seven “s” items due to differences in language, she added.
To feel closer to home, Towhidkhah has started her own tradition of setting up a personal haft-sin table, though she admits it’s sometimes difficult to find all the items needed for the display.
Technology has been invaluable for Towhidkhah and other Iranians living abroad. This time of year, however, brings out a strong sense of homesickness for her.
“I miss my country, my family, and the streets of Tehran where I grew up. But being able to call my family and see their haft-sin, their Persian New Year, has been such a blessing,” she said.
This Nowruz, as it coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Towhidkhah plans to visit one of Doha’s many Persian restaurants after Iftar, where she will continue celebrating the arrival of spring and the new day.
