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.

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.  

It is 5 P.M. I meet the inspired artist family in their workplace. The smell of food is everywhere. They say that they had guests and discussed the carpets. The weavers are working in one of the rooms. Another room is available for the guests. There are carpets and a bench for crocheting.  

At the wake of the hot and cold seasons, they travel for miles, their whole life packed on their backs, with their animals. Moving from pastures to their winter camps, and back, the Shahsavan nomads, ethnically Azerbaijanis, wander across mountains and plains around Ardebil, in northern Iran, on the move seven months of the year.