Nowruz(نوروز) in 🇹🇷 Turkey

Nevruz in Turkey is celebrated on March 21st primarily by the Kurdish population as a festival of spring and new beginnings, though it has been officially recognized as a national holiday since 2005 under the name 'Nevruz Bayrami.' The holiday holds particular cultural and political significance for Turkey's Kurdish community, for whom it is the most important celebration of the year.

Fire is central to Turkish Nevruz. Large bonfires are lit in public squares and on hillsides, and people jump over the flames for purification and good fortune, echoing the ancient Zoroastrian roots of the festival. In southeastern cities like Diyarbakir, the Nevruz celebrations attract hundreds of thousands of people to public gatherings with music, dancing, and political speeches.

Traditional foods include special pastries, boiled eggs (symbolizing new life), and regional dishes. In Kurdish areas, dolma, biryani-style rice, and lamb dishes are prepared. The holiday is also marked by wearing colourful traditional clothing, particularly in green, red, and yellow.

The Turkish government has increasingly embraced Nevruz as part of a broader Turkic heritage, linking it to the mythological legend of the blacksmith Kawa (Kaveh) who led a revolt against a tyrant. Universities, municipalities, and cultural organizations host Nevruz events that blend Turkish, Kurdish, and Central Asian traditions.

The Persian New Year marking the spring equinox, celebrated for over 3,000 years with the Haft-sin table, family visits, and renewal rituals across Iran and Central Asia.