Even in difficult days, we are full of hope for tomorrow / “Nowruz” is a cure for old pains
According to the public relations of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, the ceremony of “Nowruz 1400; was held by the National Commission for UNESCO at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday evening, March 16th.
Hojjatullah Ayoubi, Secretary General of the National Commission for UNESCO in Iran, delivered a speech at the beginning of the ceremony. The text of his speech is as follows:
Excellencies, Honorable Ambassadors, Honorable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great delight and happiness that we are gathered here, in the glorious Mashq square for celebrating Nowruz and spring, where our ancestors celebrated the last Nowruz of the century, exactly one hundred years ago, at the peak of Spanish flu epidemic. On these days, there was enthusiasm in this square and in this street. The nightmare of death governed the world. But in 1300, the glory of Nowruz triumphed over the devil of despair, and on Mashq Square, at the peak of war, famine and hunger, the sound of trumpet, Sorna, musical instruments, drum and the enthusiasm of Nowruz heralds promised hope and life and coming of spring. Hundred years ago, our ancestors used to read in the streets and bazaars:
O year, do not return/ shut the stores/made women frump/ O year, do not return
O year, do not return/ shut the stores/
Now, a hundred years later, the Iranian people are still grappling with the sanctions, the violence of ISIS, prejudice and ignorance, and the U.K. Variant of Coronavirus. Like our ancestors, we are going through hard times. Maybe our situation can be described in the same words of our ancestors:
O year, do not return/ shut the stores/
But no! We are replete with hopes and aspirations and why we should not be replete with hope for tomorrow, when we see the extraordinary devotion of caretakers of love in our hospitals and clinics, those who whispered with all their heart the poem of Rumi:
We bring the dead to life because
We have learned our skills from Great Ones ,
We are the healers of spirit and do not look for reward.
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī
Why we should not be replete with great wishes, while we see a world replete with the unconditional forgiveness of the rich and the gracious and civilized behavior of the weak and the poor. Patience and endurance are characteristics of the people of Nowruz. They have learned to whisper hope, warmth and spring at the peak of cold and hardship:
There is a hope in despair time, the end of the dark night is bright day
If you wait, no doubt, the victory will come to you little by little
Nezami Ganjavi
Yes, on these difficult days, artists became a courier of hope and happiness with their instruments and songs, and believers with their prayers and invocations. And, we, at the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, have prepared ourselves since the first day of the Covid’s-19 invasion, and today we are here with our drums, trumpets, and Sorna and Naqareh to say loudly: Long live Nowruz! Long live life! Long live happiness and joy!
These days, people of the land of sun clean the dust from their home and clean the darkness and rust from their heart.
Nowruz comes like limpid water and washes away darkness, anger and grudge every year. Nowruz means the end of anger; Nowruz means the beginning of friendships….
Dear Dr. Javad Zarif! Esteemed ambassadors of Nowruz!
Today, reviving the rituals of Nowruz is not only done by journey to the past and commemorating the rituals of our ancestors. Nowruz is a solution today. It is a cure, cure for old pains, cure for anxiety and disorders, cure for fears and violence, and cure for diseases arising from rusty hearts.
Dear Dr. Zarif! Dear Dr. Moonesan! Dear Ambassadors!
Our ancestors taught us to fill our minds and souls with lofty wishes on the coming of New Year. The enthusiasm of Dr. Zarif for Nowruz, which is clearly seen on his face, gives me the courage to loudly declare one of my dreams in presence of Nowruz Ambassadors in Mashq square. Aspiration is not a defect for youngsters.
I hope that the high-ranking officials of Nowruz world stop protocols for a few days of Nowruz put aside all the conventions that have been built on the ruins of the World Wars. What if the high-ranking officials of Nowruz world return to the protocols of our ancestors only for a few days? Protocols grown in the meadow of friendship, protocols born out of dustless souls and stainless mirrors. Just like all the people, the high-ranking officials of the twelve countries celebrating Nowruz can meet each other at the beginning of the year, simply and without any formalities so that people can see that their leaders, like them, renew the promise of love and friendship at the beginning of the New Year, and what elegant scenes will be created in the world of Nowruz!
Dear Dr. Zarif! You can start from Tehran, and make sudden and unpretentious visit to ambassadors of different countries, especially Nowruz countries. Maybe your work could be a prelude to the realization of that dream.
Say not all are fighting, what use is my alone call for peace
You’re not one, but thousands: light your beacon
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī
Foreign Ministry Spokesman: Nowruz, an identity for unity and renewal
In a short speech, Saeed Khatibzadeh welcomed the guests and said: “Welcome to the diplomatic celebration of Nowruz.” One hundred years ago, in this square, which was called “Mashk” Square in those days, the celebration of entering the new century was held. We have the good fortune to come together and collaborate with Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Iranian National Commission for UNESCO and etc. to celebrate Nowruz.
He added: “Perhaps no event like” Nowruz “will recognize this unity and renewal.” Although the choice of Nowruz as the delivery of the Iranian year is attributed to Jamshid Shah, what we know today from Nowruz as a culture is an identity. Nowruz is tied to transformation. We ask God to change our thoughts and measures towards a transformation for altruism. I hope to see the Covid19 eradicate in the new year.
Minister of Science, Research and Technology: Let’s share the joys
The Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Mansour Gholami, said in a speech: Congratulations on the arrival of the new year. We get the message from nature. All of our poets have laid the foundation for the change of nature in order to change the world. It is a good impression that people are happy with this message and share the joys.
He continued: “We have many reasons to live together, when we share this gift together, so the joy of living multiplies.” we should all try to spread love in the world because these days, when we look around, the unkind have disturbed nature as well. I hope that the renewal of the days will affect the renewal of the human mind and their companionship, and we will see our children and future generations congratulate each other on the renewal in friendly meetings.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: There is no superpower in the world except “God”.
Then, Foreign Affairs Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, came on stage and said in a short speech: Nowruz is a cultural celebration, a celebration of nature, a celebration of emptying hearts of all grudges, a celebration of the new year and century. Nowruz, which is celebrated not only in the subcontinent today, but also in the rest of the world by anyone familiar with Ferdowsi and Saadi.
Zarif continued: the coldness of Covid19, the coldness of sanctions and etc. today is on the verge of decline. Today, the Covid19 is being eradicated by scientists and with God’s help. Last year we had to learn a lesson from Covid19, that the world is under control of a superpower and that is the essence of transcendence. There is no superpower in the world, those whose voices of military and propaganda power made great fuss over their power, knelt before a small virus.
He added: “After a year of enduring this suffering, we must accept that we are all united, our future is not separate from each other, share the happiness and participate in each other’s joys and sorrows.” We need to know that progress cannot be combined with backwardness, richness with poverty, insecurity with security, and that human values are intertwined. Globalization means the inseparability of all of us.
In the end, Zarif said: “We celebrate Nowruz and the beginning of spring every year as a new beginning for ourselves.” We ask God to renew our lives and hearts, to remove resentment and to teach us that we are sitting in a ship. The common pain must have taught us all that we cannot be safe in each other’s insecurities. We must put aside these rotten attitudes. We are past a century that had vaccines from war to hoarding. I hope we enter a century that brings cooperation, love and friendship. I wish everyone good days.
Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts: “Nowruz” is an invitation to the world for peace
Ali Asghar Monesan, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said: “I congratulate everyone in advance of Nowruz.” Nowruz means the renewal of nature Nowruz days means the days of dynamism and growth. Throughout history, this cultural nation has paid attention to its past under the pretext of Nowruz and has tried to learn from the past and build a beautiful future for itself and others. This glorious cultural heritage belongs to all men and women of the world and invites everyone to peace. A world that is unfortunately full of hegemony and war today and seems to need such a cultural program more than ever.
He added: “Nowruz, as a cultural diplomacy, can be one of the most effective programs for peace.” Paying attention to common roots and cultures has always been one of our programs, and many programs have been implemented in this regard to help soften the atmosphere between countries and increase the recognition of countries. That is why I ask all of you, the representatives of the countries, for help in spreading peace.
Moneson continued: “My nation has been under the pressure of economic sanctions for forty years and they have been in a severe economic war for three years, for what crime?” Why should the supremacy of some countries put pressure on a country? Forty years ago, Iranians wanted to make a revolution and be independent. We have been under pressure for this crime for forty years. We endured maximum pressure under various pretexts. What would you do if your country was under this threat? We even threatened to bomb cultural centers. In such a situation, shouldn’t a nation strengthen its tools of power?
He added: “But I am happy to say that despite all these pressures, our nation has progressed more resistant than before.” We endured the pressure to defend our identity. We ask you to help eliminate this hegemony because no one has the right to ride on the shoulders of other nations. The world will be beautiful when there is world peace.
In another part of the ceremony, Ramazan Ali Sobhanifar, Deputy Minister of Communications, said: Nowruz has a message of peace and friendship, Nowruz does not belong to one country but to different nations of the world. I must say that in the Safavid era, gifts were given during this period, one of which was the Nowruz stamps. And I wish peace and friendship to all.
This stamp was unveiled in the presence of Gholami, Tabatabai, Ayoubi and the others.
Nowruz 1400 Celebration with the presence of Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mansour Gholami, Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hojjatullah Ayoubi, Secretary General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, Sarvar Bakhti, President of ECO Cultural Institute, Ali Asghar Monesan, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism And handicrafts and a group of ambassadors, people of culture, art and media were held in the open area of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speeches by Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Mansour Gholami, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Monesan were other parts of the ceremony.
In the continuation of this ceremony, the attendees visited the exhibition of stamps of Nowruz countries and then the Nowruz stamp was unveiled in the presence of the attendees.
Establishment of Nowruz tables (Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, India, Armenia, Pakistan and Azerbaijan) and representation of Nowruz rituals of countries and ethnic groups, performance of Nowruz singers (7 Sin, Baluch, Kurdish, Turkmen, Azeri, Khorasan and Qashqai), performance of rituals such as Takmachi, Wooden Horse, Nowruz Singing, Haji Firooz, Kurdish, Baluch and Turkmen, Nowruz Screen Reading, Ashiqi Music Performance by Master Shahbazi were other parts of this program.
In this ceremony, the High Nowruz Medal of the National Commission for UNESCO-Iran was awarded to Dr. Seyed Ahmad Mohit Tabatabai, Chairman of ICOM and Chairman of the World Memory Commission.
The diploma of honor of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO was also awarded to Shah Mansour Shah Mirza, Tajik cultural expert at the ECO Cultural Institute.
At the end of the ceremony, the Nowruz video dumping program was held by the National Commission for UNESCO in Iran, directed by Amir Reza Salari, on the Kazakhkhaneh mansion, located in Mashkh Square, and the cultural symbols of 12 member countries of the Nowruz World Convention registered in UNESCO were displayed.
At the end of the ceremony, Sarvar Bakhti, the head of ECO, spoke about Nowruz and then a memorial plaque was presented to Dr. Amidi.
