Iranian President Hassan Rouhani left Tehran for Kabul this morning to take part in Nowruz (new Persian year) celebrations to be held in the Afghan capital.

President Rouhani is accompanied by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Vice-President Massoud Soltanifar and his cultural advisor Hessameddin Ashena.

Many presidents, foreign ministers, senior official and dignitaries from around the world are slated to attend the Nowruz celebration in Kabul.

Nowruz, which coincides with the first day of spring on the solar calendar, is mostly celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan , Pakistan, Turkey, Armenia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Uzbekistan.

The International Day of Nowruz was registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on February 23, 2010.

For Iranians, Nowruz is a celebration of renewal and change, a time to visit relatives and friends, and pay respect to senior family members.

Iranians welcome the New Year by wearing new clothes and setting the Haft Seen, a table containing seven items starting with the letter 'S'; Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanu (sweet wheat paste), Senjed (jujube), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Serkeh (vinegar) and Somaq (sumac).
 

News ID 186447