In the days before the Persian new year festival of Nowruz, Iranians would usually be excitedly preparing. We'd be busy getting ready … cleaning the house, shopping for new clothes, sweets and snacks, says Mina, a woman in her 50s in Damavand, northeast of Tehran. But this year will be different, she says, in tears. This year? Every day feels so long. It's like I've lost track of time. Nowruz, which translates to new day, is a traditional festival that marks the spring equinox, the rebirth of nature and the start of the new year in Iran and other countries. The festival dates back more than 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest in the world. It falls on 20 March this year, with the following day marking the start of the Iranian new year.
But this year's Nowruz will be the first many in the country have experienced at war. Iran has been under bombardment from US and Israeli strikes since 28 February. The US-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran reports that 3,114 people have been killed in Iran, including 1,354 civilians, of which at least 207 were children. Tehran has responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
Mina's son, Amir, who has also moved from Tehran to Damavand with his family, says this Nowruz feels very different. People are losing their jobs with the war. My biggest worry is our country's infrastructure, he says. At this rate, there might not even be much left of Iran. I don't want this to be our last Nowruz. To Iranians, Nowruz represents their history, national character, and tradition. The last time they celebrated Nowruz during wartime was in the 1980s, during the eight-year conflict with Iraq.
This festive period usually involves visitors exchanging gifts and sharing meals. However, many are hesitant to return to Tehran, which has seen the heaviest attacks. Visits this year are very limited. We've been displaced ourselves, we left Tehran and came somewhere a bit safer, Mina says. Despite the challenges, some continue to prepare for Nowruz, hoping for a fresh start and peace. As preparations go on, the spirit of resilience shines through, although insecurity looms heavily in the air.
