In recent days, the city of Clermont-Ferrand in France hosted a Nowruz celebration, an occasion rooted deep in human history. The three-day event, held from Wednesday to Friday last week under the title “Nowruz: A Link Between Nature and Culture,” brought together people from near and far. Organized by the association Vitrine Culturelle, the gathering aimed to showcase this ancient civilizational tradition in a contemporary setting.
Nowruz, born more than three thousand years ago within the cultural geography of our region, has traveled a long path through history. From the inscriptions of Persepolis to Avestan texts, traces of this celebration appear in stone carvings and oral traditions. Today, across Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and beyond, it embraces more than 300 million people. In 2009, UNESCO inscribed it on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in 2010, the United Nations designated 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz.
In Clermont-Ferrand, this ancient heritage was honored through the presence of cultural figures from Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. The program featured speeches, poetry, music, and a cultural exhibition — each element reflecting a piece of these nations’ identities. On the final day, in the Champratel hall of the Maison des Habitants, the event concluded with an intercultural dialogue, bringing together voices not only from Nowruz-celebrating countries but also from beyond this region.
Nikes Joseph, deputy mayor of Clermont-Ferrand, attended the gathering, saying: “This event is valuable for our city. Nowruz, with its connection to nature and culture, invites us to see differences as enrichment.” He added: “We learned things tonight, and this celebration is a bridge between past and future, teaching us solidarity and peace.” Samir El Bekali, a council advisor, described it as “an opportunity to experience a rich culture.”
Arash Baraz, who performed with what attendees called a “captivating” voice on the third night, described Nowruz as “a beginning.” He said: “In difficult times when Afghan culture is wounded, every cultural program becomes a breath of life. Nowruz gave us a reason to gather and renew — a message that after every winter, there is a spring.” He recalled last year’s smaller program and added: “This year it expanded to three days: two days of exhibitions and one day of dialogue. Nowruz is forbidden to those who fear blossoming. Culture is greater than politics.”
Chantal Sharade, head of Vitrine Culturelle, noted: “This is my second year attending this event. Nowruz carries us between past and present, binding us to nature and art.” She highlighted the celebration’s strength in “connection,” adding: “Nowruz opens perspectives toward diverse cultures.”
Other speakers added their voices to this narrative. One remarked: “We felt the spirit of Nowruz that spans thousands of years.” Another said: “This celebration brings together hearts and stories — a symbol of renewal and friendship that transcends the calendar.” There was also mention of Afghanistan: “Today it has been pushed into darkness, but we have not abandoned it.”
“For three days, Clermont-Ferrand became a stage for cultural synergy. Nowruz — once celebrated with grandeur in the courts of the Achaemenids and now echoing through distant lands and modern cities — retold its ancient story with a new voice in this French town.” Through exhibitions, music, dialogue, and the presence of diverse communities, the event became a living moment of history in which nature and culture joined hands to announce another spring.
Yet in the shadow of this joy, Nowruz has been banned in Afghanistan by the Taliban, who have “chained the idea of blossoming.” In the land where this tradition was born, Nowruz — a messenger of renewal and connection — has fallen silent under Taliban rule. Even so, participants looked toward a future in which this homeland may once again embrace the tradition it gave to the world.
