The exclusion of Nawroz from the list of public holidays recently issued by the Jammu Kashmir administration has sparked discontent among various segments of society.
Syed Karar Hashmi, a prominent sociopolitical activist, expressed his disappointment over this decision, emphasizing Nawroz’s cultural significance and its role in fostering unity and camaraderie in the Valley.
In a press statement, Hashmi highlighted Nawroz as a valuable component of the region’s cultural heritage, noting its inclusion in the “International Day of Nawroz” by the United Nations General Assembly in 2010.
He pointed out that Nawroz was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009 and extended in 2016, as recognized by the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Nawroz, the Iranian or Persian New Year celebrated globally, holds particular importance in Jammu and Kashmir, where it is observed with traditional fervor.
The festival coincides with the spring equinox, typically occurring around March 21 on the Gregorian calendar.
The festival’s cultural and religious significance, particularly among the Shia community in Kashmir, who celebrate it with enthusiasm as a symbol of the arrival of the Spring season.
Despite the exclusion from the official list of public holidays, Nawroz continues to be a celebrated occasion in the region.
To mark the festival, a massive plantation drive has been initiated across the valley, with authorities planning to plant a substantial number of saplings in educational institutions and other areas. The ongoing celebration underscores the enduring cultural and communal importance of Nawroz in Jammu and Kashmir.