Nowruz Celebration - Iraq

Nowruz Celebration - Iraq

Nowruz, which means 'new day' in Persian, is celebrated to mark the arrival of spring and the first day of the Iranian calendar. It is also celebrated by the Kurds, where it is an important symbol of national identity. The roots of this ancient tradition of marking the spring equinox lie in Zoroastrianism, and the fact that it is widely celebrated in Iran and neighbouring regions has led to its inclusion on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. The town of Akre is considered the capital of Newroz, and tens of thousands of people flock here every year on 20 March to take part in the celebrations. Despite the cold, windy and rainy weather, over 75,000 people gathered in the town to celebrate this year's Newroz, including Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region. Akre, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, March 2024. Photo by Konstantin Novakovic/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Nowruz Celebration - Iraq

Nowruz Celebration - Iraq

Nowruz, which means 'new day' in Persian, is celebrated to mark the arrival of spring and the first day of the Iranian calendar. It is also celebrated by the Kurds, where it is an important symbol of national identity. The roots of this ancient tradition of marking the spring equinox lie in Zoroastrianism, and the fact that it is widely celebrated in Iran and neighbouring regions has led to its inclusion on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. The town of Akre is considered the capital of Newroz, and tens of thousands of people flock here every year on 20 March to take part in the celebrations. Despite the cold, windy and rainy weather, over 75,000 people gathered in the town to celebrate this year's Newroz, including Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region. Akre, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, March 2024. Photo by Konstantin Novakovic/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian actors perform a mime, directed by Japan's Izumi Ashizawa and based on Avesta, an ancient Persian scripture of Iran's indigenous religion Zoroastrianism, in Tehran on June 16, 2011, during a show to raise money for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian actors perform a mime, directed by Japan's Izumi Ashizawa and based on Avesta, an ancient Persian scripture of Iran's indigenous religion Zoroastrianism, in Tehran on June 16, 2011, during a show to raise money for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

SAPPORO, Japan - Religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism meet at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo on July 2, the first day of a two-day World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace. They will discuss eradicating war and poverty as well as climate change and terrorism, and present proposals on these issues to the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit to be held in the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido.

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

SAPPORO, Japan - Religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism meet at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo on July 2, the first day of a two-day World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace. They will discuss eradicating war and poverty as well as climate change and terrorism, and present proposals on these issues to the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit to be held in the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido.

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

SAPPORO, Japan - Religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism meet at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo on July 2, the first day of a two-day World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace. They will discuss eradicating war and poverty as well as climate change and terrorism, and present proposals on these issues to the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit to be held in the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

SAPPORO, Japan - Religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism meet at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo on July 2, the first day of a two-day World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace. They will discuss eradicating war and poverty as well as climate change and terrorism, and present proposals on these issues to the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit to be held in the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

SAPPORO, Japan - Religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism meet at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo on July 2, the first day of a two-day World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace. They will discuss eradicating war and poverty as well as climate change and terrorism, and present proposals on these issues to the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit to be held in the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

Religious leaders meet in Hokkaido ahead of G-8 summit

SAPPORO, Japan - Religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Zoroastrianism meet at the Sapporo Convention Center in Sapporo on July 2, the first day of a two-day World Religious Leaders Summit for Peace. They will discuss eradicating war and poverty as well as climate change and terrorism, and present proposals on these issues to the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit to be held in the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian actors perform a mime, directed by Japan's Izumi Ashizawa and based on Avesta, an ancient Persian scripture of Iran's indigenous religion Zoroastrianism, in Tehran on June 16, 2011, during a show to raise money for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. (Kyodo)

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

Japanese director stages mime in Tehran to help quake victims

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian actors perform a mime, directed by Japan's Izumi Ashizawa and based on Avesta, an ancient Persian scripture of Iran's indigenous religion Zoroastrianism, in Tehran on June 16, 2011, during a show to raise money for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. (Kyodo)