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11 heartwarming pictures of Nowruz celebrations

While many celebrate the festival in their homes, many families are marking the new year in refugee camps

Multimedia Desk March 21, 2016

Iraqi Kurdish men celebrate Newroz Day, a festival marking spring and the new year, in Akra, Iraq. PHOTO: REUTERS

Nowruz day, or the Iranian New Year, was marked with much vigour over the weekend across Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Legend has it, that the annual holiday is celebrated to mark the Kurdish cause.

The festival coincides with the spring equinox and is celebrated to mark the arrival of spring. It has come to be known as a festival to welcome new beginnings and is considered the most important festival in Kurdish culture.

While many celebrate the festival in their homes, many families are marking the new year in makeshift refugee camps at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni.

Here we look at 11 pictures of Nowruz celebrations.

A Kurdish girl celebrates Nowruz Day, a festival marking spring and the new year, in Akra, Iraq. PHOTO: REUTERS

Children stand as Kurds celebrate Nowruz in the makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian borders near the village of Idomeni. PHOTO: AFP

A child clutches her toy as Kurds celebrate Nowruz in the makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian borders near the village of Idomeni. PHOTO: AFP

Kurds celebrate Nowruz in at the makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni on March 20, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

A family poses as they celebrate Nowruz in the makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni. PHOTO: AFP

Afghans use their mobile phones to capture celebration of Nowruz in Kabul, Afghanistan. PHOTO: REUTERS

Iraqi Kurdish people carry fire torches up a mountain where a giant flag of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region is laid, as they celebrate Nowruz Day. PHOTO: REUTERS