Nowruz Festival, which heralds the arrival of spring, is celebrated by Anatolian and Central Asian countries with various activities. Ege University Turkic World Studies Institute (TDAE) Director Prof. Dr. Nadim Macit made statements about Nowruz Festival. prof. Dr. Macit said, “Nowruz is a spring festival celebrated for the arrival of spring, the renewal and revival of nature. Nowruz, which is celebrated as the end of winter, the arrival of spring and the symbol of exit from Ergenekon; It is the name of the entrance to spring,” he said.

prof. Dr. Nadim Macit said, “As it is known, March 21 is the beginning of spring. On March 21, the sun enters the sign of Aries, and on March 21, when day and night are equal, spring begins, which will last 92 days, 20 hours, 4 minutes and 27 seconds. Nowruz is a spring festival celebrated for the arrival of spring, the renewal and revival of nature. Nowruz, which is celebrated as the end of winter, the arrival of spring and the symbol of exit from Ergenekon; It is the name of the entrance to spring. It is the day of awakening, resurrection and rebirth. In other words, it is the name of the day that symbolizes the renewal of life, the awakening and resurrection of the nature that has been subjected to death, symbolizing the cosmic time lapse. This holiday, which we do not know exactly how long it has been celebrated in history and how long it is called Nevruz, is celebrated as an official holiday in the Turkish Republics except the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In the ancient tradition, spring signifies the emergence of the dead from the living, the life of frozen, dried soil with water, the enlightenment of frozen minds, the liberation of self-alienated and exiled souls.

“Nowruz is the sum of our beliefs”

Stating that Nowruz is woven with different narratives as well as myths, symbols, religious traditions and beliefs, Prof. Dr. Macit said, “Nowruz is reflected in our beliefs, music, aesthetic taste and language. Hodja Çelebi, an important statesman in the Ottoman Empire, says that Nevruz is not a Magi, but a sultani, that is, it is a tradition of the Turkish state, not firework. In Divan literature, poets such as Mevlana Lütfi, Abdi, Niğdeli Muhibbi wrote masnavis called “Gül-ü Nevruz”. In Divan literature, it is used in the meanings that evoke the resurrection of the spring season, coming together and having fun. Nowruz Festival was celebrated with great feasts in the Ottoman Palace. On the day of Nowruz, Hekimbaşı boils a special paste. He would serve it to his relatives and state dignitaries, especially the sultan. Sultan Ahmet I tells that with the arrival of Nevruz, nature comes alive, flowers bloom, songs are sung, the weather gets better, and the old world becomes younger. Zatî, one of the important figures of Divan literature, emphasizes the feature of bringing people together in his poems about Nevruz.

prof. Dr. Macit said, “Nevruz is an official holiday in the Turkish Republics. Whether in the Ottoman Empire or the Republic of Turkey, Nevruz was neglected from time to time. But the people have always celebrated Nowruz. During the Soviet period, Central Asian Turkishness experienced the peak of division. Alphabets, homelands, dates, everything was divided; they experienced two or three letter revolutions in a quarter of a century. The order of letters in the alphabet and therefore in their dictionaries has changed. But nowruz has not changed. This holiday, which is known as ‘New Day, Prime Moon, New Year, Çağan, Navrız, Ergenekon, and in Anatolia, Nevruz, Nevruzi Sultani, Solstice, Baba Seagull, March Nine’ in the Turkish world, is celebrated in every geography where Turkish culture exists.

“Fire, water and the cult of ancestors come to the fore in Nowruz”

Stating that the cult of fire, the cult of water and the cult of ancestors are prominent in Nevruz beliefs, Prof. Dr. Macit said, “Whatever the beliefs of the Turks, they have continued as a tradition to light a fire in Nevruz and to jump over it with the same intentions and wishes in a wide geography from Siberia to Macedonia, from Sahara to Karaim Turks. According to this belief, fire is a gift from God. It refers to the spirit or life form of purification, cleansing, healthy living. This; it points to the form of cleanliness and reviving life. The cult of ancestors, on the other hand, points to the family hearth, historical reason and tradition. It is customary to visit the graves and offer food and drink to the poor during the Newroz Festival. Nowruz is the symbol of common culture. I congratulate each person who feels the meaning of this common symbol in any corner of the cultural geography and hears it in his heart. May every day be like spring,” he said.

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency