Nowruz and Navratri: Ancient Connection, Modern Protest in Iran

• Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, shares a 3000-year-old connection with the Hindu New Year, both based on solar calendars.
• This ancient festival, celebrated by Zoroastrians (Parsis in India), predates Islam in Persia and symbolizes Iran's pre-Islamic identity.
• The Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi, used Nowruz greetings to protest the Ayatollahs' Islamic regime, advocating for freedom and a return to ancient Persian culture.
• Nowruz celebrations, similar to Diwali and Basant Panchami, involve cleaning homes, new clothes, and a special 'Haft Seen' table with seven symbolic items.
• Despite the Islamic regime's attempts to suppress it, Nowruz remains a powerful symbol of Iranian identity and a form of protest against the current government.