Paris, March 18, 2025 – UNESCO headquarters hosted a vibrant and multicultural celebration of Nauryz, the annual spring equinox festival, bringing together representatives of 13 countries. The event was attended by the leadership and the personnel of this intergovernmental organization, accredited diplomatic missions of its member states and members of diasporas of countries where this holiday is widely celebrated.

In his welcoming remarks, UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the importance of Nauryz as an international phenomenon celebrating the spirit of nature’s renewal and solidarity between people after long winter. She also recalled that since 2009 Nauryz has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a common heritage of the peoples of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, as well as Mongolia, which joined last year.

At the end of the official part, a solemn concert was held, at which artists from these countries showcased traditional music and folk dances. The song Nauryz Duman was symbolically performed on behalf of Kazakhstan, which was accompanied by the shashu ceremony, which through symbolically distributing treats to the guests embodies wishes of welfare and prosperity in the new year.

The participants could enjoy a variety of festive dishes from many national cuisines. Kazakhstan’s table offered the guests the nauryz kozhe, a soup with milk, meat and various grains, and other traditional holiday meals.

The celebration coincided with the National Dress Day, celebrated within the framework of Nauryznama 10-day festivities in Kazakhstan. On this day, the country’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO presented a rich variety of elements of national clothing, which generated curiosity and admiration from the guests of the event.

The UNESCO event was another great opportunity to learn more about the vibrant traditions of Nauryz celebrations in various countries and strengthen solidarity and mutual understanding between peoples.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-unesco/press/news/details/962039?lang=kk