ID :
169745
Mon, 03/21/2011 - 16:07
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https://oananews.org//node/169745
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Turkish culture minister says Nevruz belongs to everybody, not only a certain group
ANKARA (A.A) - Turkey's culture & tourism minister said on Monday that Nevruz was a festival that belonged to every one, not only a certain nation, group or region.
Ertugrul Gunay said Turkish state used to take unbelievable measures to prevent people from celebrating Nevruz a decade or two decades ago.
"Therefore, we faced many agonies and problems in the past, however today we all know that Nevruz belongs to everybody, not only a certain nation, group or region," Gunay said as he received members of International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) in Ankara on the sidelines of Nevruz celebrations.
Gunay said humanity was longing for peace and feast, not rows or clashes, adding that Nevruz was a joint feast and the feast of spring.
TURKSOY will celebrate the Nevruz also at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York and also in Washington, starting from March 24.
Panel discussions and concerts will be held on the sidelines of Nevruz celebrations in the United States.
In previous years, TURKSOY celebrated Nevruz feast in Paris and Strasbourg in addition to many cities of Turkey and Turkic Republics.
The UN officially recognizes Nevruz, which was included into the UNESCO "Intangible Cultural Heritage List" in 2009. Thus, March 21 was declared to be the "International Day of Nevruz" during the session of the General Assembly of the UN on December 2, 2009. Through this resolution, the General Assembly calls on countries that celebrate Nevruz, intergovernmental organizations, notably UNESCO, and non-governmental organizations to cooperate for the promotion and celebration of Nevruz.
Nevruz, the world's oldest festival which is celebrated by festivities under various names in many communities, is being celebrated in the Turkish World as "the exit of Turks from Ergenekon" and "the beginning of the new year in Turkish calendar with 12 zodiac divisions represented by animals" since 5000 years.
Some accept this day as the day God created Earth, some as the day Prophet Noah stepped on Earth after the Flood. Some accepts it as the day first human-being is created, and some as the messenger of Spring.
All dwellings are cleaned for the Nevruz which is believed to be the day when everyone's fate is determined and the day when all diseases, evil, misfortunes, and troubles disappear. Various games are played, and special meals are cooked to mark the Nevruz. After eating the meal together, people exchange greetings with each other for a happy new year. Then, they visit graves of their beloved ones. Those who offended to each other, are reconciled. People extend a helping hand to the poor, the forlorn, and the elderly. Young people wishing their dreams to come true, jump over a Nevruz Fire.
In accordance with a common belief in the Turkish World, Nevruz is considered as the day when the Gokturks departed from Ergenekon and obtained their independence. In Ergenekon Epic of Ebulgazi Bahadir Khan's famous work named "Secere-i Turk" (Genealogy of Turks), it was told that the Turks who had to live in a valley surrounded by high mountains for 400 years, left the valley when spring started, returned to their homeland, and gained their independence. Therefore, March 21 symbolizes the independence day.
During Nevruz celebrations, especially the Turks living in Central Asia, read out Ergenekon Epic to express the importance of Nevruz to the new generations.
According to another belief, March 21, the beginning of the 12-animal Turkish Calendar, symbolizes refreshment of the nature, and beginning of spring. Snowdrops which bloom in these days, are called as "Nevruz Flower". Babies who are born in Nevruz, are given the first name of Nevruz.
Ertugrul Gunay said Turkish state used to take unbelievable measures to prevent people from celebrating Nevruz a decade or two decades ago.
"Therefore, we faced many agonies and problems in the past, however today we all know that Nevruz belongs to everybody, not only a certain nation, group or region," Gunay said as he received members of International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) in Ankara on the sidelines of Nevruz celebrations.
Gunay said humanity was longing for peace and feast, not rows or clashes, adding that Nevruz was a joint feast and the feast of spring.
TURKSOY will celebrate the Nevruz also at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall in New York and also in Washington, starting from March 24.
Panel discussions and concerts will be held on the sidelines of Nevruz celebrations in the United States.
In previous years, TURKSOY celebrated Nevruz feast in Paris and Strasbourg in addition to many cities of Turkey and Turkic Republics.
The UN officially recognizes Nevruz, which was included into the UNESCO "Intangible Cultural Heritage List" in 2009. Thus, March 21 was declared to be the "International Day of Nevruz" during the session of the General Assembly of the UN on December 2, 2009. Through this resolution, the General Assembly calls on countries that celebrate Nevruz, intergovernmental organizations, notably UNESCO, and non-governmental organizations to cooperate for the promotion and celebration of Nevruz.
Nevruz, the world's oldest festival which is celebrated by festivities under various names in many communities, is being celebrated in the Turkish World as "the exit of Turks from Ergenekon" and "the beginning of the new year in Turkish calendar with 12 zodiac divisions represented by animals" since 5000 years.
Some accept this day as the day God created Earth, some as the day Prophet Noah stepped on Earth after the Flood. Some accepts it as the day first human-being is created, and some as the messenger of Spring.
All dwellings are cleaned for the Nevruz which is believed to be the day when everyone's fate is determined and the day when all diseases, evil, misfortunes, and troubles disappear. Various games are played, and special meals are cooked to mark the Nevruz. After eating the meal together, people exchange greetings with each other for a happy new year. Then, they visit graves of their beloved ones. Those who offended to each other, are reconciled. People extend a helping hand to the poor, the forlorn, and the elderly. Young people wishing their dreams to come true, jump over a Nevruz Fire.
In accordance with a common belief in the Turkish World, Nevruz is considered as the day when the Gokturks departed from Ergenekon and obtained their independence. In Ergenekon Epic of Ebulgazi Bahadir Khan's famous work named "Secere-i Turk" (Genealogy of Turks), it was told that the Turks who had to live in a valley surrounded by high mountains for 400 years, left the valley when spring started, returned to their homeland, and gained their independence. Therefore, March 21 symbolizes the independence day.
During Nevruz celebrations, especially the Turks living in Central Asia, read out Ergenekon Epic to express the importance of Nevruz to the new generations.
According to another belief, March 21, the beginning of the 12-animal Turkish Calendar, symbolizes refreshment of the nature, and beginning of spring. Snowdrops which bloom in these days, are called as "Nevruz Flower". Babies who are born in Nevruz, are given the first name of Nevruz.
