TEHRAN -- Twelve countries are seeking UNESCO’s approval to register a new file on Noruz, the ancient celebration of the Iranian New Year that begins on the first day of spring, on its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The final stage in preparing the file was done in Tehran at a four-day meeting, during which representatives of the countries reached a consensus on the file, the deputy director of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO), Mohammad-Hassan Talebian, said in a press release.
The file has been jointly prepared by 12 countries in which Noruz is celebrated annually.
The countries are Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Iraq.
Noruz was once registered on the UNESCO list as a common element from Iran, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan in 2009.
In a meeting held in Tehran in January 2014, the countries agreed to add more countries to the file.
Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Iraq were added to the new file as a result.
MMS/YAW
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