Afghanistan kicks off celebration for International Day of Nawroz

The celebrations for the International Day of Nawroz or New Year in Persian calendar kicked off in Afghan capital city Kabul on Thursday. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain, Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmon and Turkmenistan Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Rashid Meredov have arrived in Kabul to attend the ceremony held in Arg or Presidential Palace. Nawroz marks the first day of spring in Afghanistan and the beginning of the year 1393 in Persian calendar which fell on March 21. However, the Afghan government for some reasons celebrates it on March 27 amid tight security. Almost all the roads in Kabul city leading to the Presidential Palace and sensitive areas have been closed and security personnel have been deployed in important buildings. The UN General Assembly in 2010 recognized Nawroz as the International Day observed in some Asian countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan. In 2013, the day was marked in Turkmenistan.