An average of 190 million people around the world - from Afghanistan and Azerbaijan to Central Asia and Northern India - celebrate Nowruz each year in the springtime. It is an ancient Zoroastrian tradition, started 3000 years ago.

In this material world, the inhabitants of the oil rich country, or the country that is on the list of the most advanced countries in the world - or tries to be on this list - are considered to live in luxury. Balakhani was the center of the oil production. Over time, the oil extracted from the depth of Balakhani changed the sight of the capital, however Balakhani itself left outside it.

It is impossible to imagine human life without energy. We all use gas, oil or coal as sources of energy.  However, it is known that all of these reserves will come to an end. 

There are many main bazars, where people go usually, and one of them and probably the biggest one is located in the 8th district of Baku, named "Vosmoy" (which means the 8th in Russian). It is possible to find everything here, ranging from the necessary things for building homes to the small details for home interiors.

The Festival that was held in Sheki, Azerbaijan underlined the contrast of youth in the capital and the young generation of the same age, in rural spaces. The festival showed the interest of youth towards motorcycles and camping, and at the same time, it was obviously seen as the “activity” of young women in rural places.  

This photo story is about the young IDPs who are trying to interpret and remember their personal stories from the war. 

An average of 190 million people around the world - from Afghanistan and Azerbaijan to Central Asia and Northern India - celebrate Nowruz each year in the springtime. It is an ancient Zoroastrian tradition, started 3000 years ago. Novruz is not confirmative to either Islamic or Christian holidays. Meaning ‘New Day’ in Farsi, it marks the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one; it is symbolic of the start of Spring because it occurs on the day of the vernal equinox. During Soviet times, Novruz was forbidden to be celebrated in soviet countries, but despite this, people celebrated it, hidden in their homes. Thus, this tradition survived for many years. In 2010 the UN formally recognized it as an international holiday. This story will depict how Azerbaijanis celebrate the various eclectic and exhilarating traditions Novruz in Azerbaijan, Georgia and in Iran. The coverage of ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Kars, Turkey was also planned to be explored, however due to the latest unfortunate incidents in Turkey, the celebration this year was not held.  

I started taking self-portraits in 2009 as I was navigating the troubled waters of seeking my identity in a society to which I did not feel I belonged.  Tradition defines social norms in my native Azerbaijan. Patriarchy is dominant and women’s dos-and-don’ts follow strict patterns, with daughters under parents’ control until the time they leave the family to get married.