وام داران نوروز / Vâmdârâne Nowruz

Nowruz is celebrated as a secular, cultural festival by the people of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Kashmir, Azerbaijan, as well as the Kurdistan regions of Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, Syria and Georgia - the modern states or regions that were part of the ancient Iranian federation or Persian empire. In addition, Nowruz is celebrated by Baha'is and Ismailis - groups whose religions have Iranian roots. Kurds celebrate NowruzToday, most of the countries or regions listed above have majority Muslim or Christian populations - religions with roots outside the region. While these populations have maintained the celebration of Nowruz as a cultural festival, one religious group native to the region - and with very old roots that precede the advent of Islam and Christianity - celebrates Nowruz for both cultural and religious reasons (comparable to the way many Christians celebrate Christmas). These are the Zoroastrians.