― 30 июня 2015 г.

Nowruz Celebrations of TURKSOY reached out from Anatolia to Europe

As one of the traditional events held by the International Organization of Turkic Culture in various places around the globe including countries of the Turkic World, Nowruz excitement was felt simultaneously in Turkey as well as in Austria, Germany and France for the first time this year. The celebrations were held in Paris, the cultural capital of Europe on March 24th followed by Cologne, one of the biggest cities of Germany on March 26th, and Vienna, the hometown of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on March 28th, 2015. Nowruz celebrations held in Paris took place in UNESCO Headquarters and were dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of the UNESCO.

Reminding us of all the values we share for peace, Nowruz is not only the beginning of the new year, the re-awakening and rebirth of the nature, it is also the harbinger of peace, reconciliation and solidarity. This year, the concerts were held in cooperation between TURKSOY, UNESCO and Yunus Emre Institute.

TURKSOY-UNESCO cooperation took Nowruz to Paris

The decision to hold Nowruz celebrations in UNESCO Headquarters this year was made during the visit of UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova to TURKSOY Headquarters earlier this year. The celebration event gathered permanent representatives of TURKSOY Member Countries to UNESCO along with many art-lovers. The event was held within the framework of the TURKSOY-UNESCO cooperation.

The UNESCO World Heritage Center Director Kishore Rao who took the floor in the opening ceremony of the event said “Nowruz is another name of mutual understanding, tolerance and love. It is our common call upon peace, kindness, unity and friendship. I would like to thank TURKSOY and the artists of the Turkic World for this special celebration.”

In the speech he delivered, TURKSOY Secretary General Düsen Kaseinov stated that Nowruz is a special feast that strengthens spiritual ties and makes cultures become closer to each other with respect to the life and culture of the Eurasian peoples.

TURKSOY and Yunus Emre Institute cooperation for Nowruz Celebrations

After the successful concert in Paris, the artists of the Turkic World once again met with the art-lovers in Germany (Cologne) and Austria (Vienna) through the activities organized in cooperation with TURKSOY and Yunus Emre Institute. 

The last concert of the tour was staged in the Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria and participated by more than 1000 art lovers. Yunus Emre Institute President Hayati Develi made a speech during the concert and stated that “Nowruz is the feast of awakening all over the world; it is the revival of the nature’s power and it is the feast of the birth of a new life. Nowruz stands for going out of the cold, poverty, fear and loneliness for the humanity”. After his speech, Hayati Develi extended his thanks to all artist and the audience.

As the main idea of Nowruz “the reawakening of nature as a result of the fight between good and evil”, the concert featured a show choreographed by TURKSOY art consultant Arman Nurmakhamatuly. The visitors became more familiar with the organization and its activities thanks to the photo exhibition that was opened prior to the concerts held in the Europe leg of TURKSOY 2015 Nowruz celebrations.

Nowruz stands for the rebirth as the beginning of a new year and it is one of the most important celebrations of the Turkic world that reached out to the present day through cultural heritage by strengthening the ties of brotherhood among Turkic people and being felt in their hearts. Nowruz is perceived as new hopes, expectations and wishes for the future. This is precisely what makes it so unique and original.

The Nowruz feast which announces the arrival of spring is known as the "New Day” in Eurasia and among the peoples of Eastern countries. It stands for the abundance and dynamism of awakening nature bringing about solidarity, friendship, love and sharing among people. As such it is also a unique occasion to celebrate and preserve traditions.  Nowruz is the day on which nature starts breathing again, thus offering all its colorful dynamism to mankind. It is celebrated with the same enthusiasm and joy by different peoples of the world. With its history dating back to five thousand years, Nowruz is considered as the greatest day of the year in the Turkic World. As such, it is referred to by various names such as  Navrız, Yeni Gün (New Day), Ulu Kün (Great Day), Ninth of March, Çani Kün, Shagaa, Isiah, Çıl Pazy (New year) and Yengi Kun (New day). Nowruz has been in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list of UNESCO since 2009.