New Delhi: Google is preparing doodles for many special occasions. Apart from this, today a wonderful doodle dedicated to the Persian New Year Nowruz was created on the Google home page. Nowruz, meaning “new day” in Persian, is an ancient Iranian festival marking the beginning of spring. Tell us more about the history of this doodle.
During the spring equinox, the Earth’s axis tilts neither toward nor away from the Sun. Because of this position of the Earth, there is approximately equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. It also marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the rebirth of nature. The doodle design represents Persian culture, including colorful floral patterns, traditional calligraphy and objects such as sin tables. The table is decorated with seven objects that begin with the Persian letter “sin” and are based on concepts such as rebirth, health and prosperity.
History of Nowruz
Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years, originating in ancient Persia and spreading to neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey. It has been recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity. The occasion is celebrated by deep cleaning houses, gathering with family and friends, exchanging gifts and enjoying traditional dishes like vegetable polo and fish.
Apart from the religious and cultural aspects, Nowruz is full of new things, hope and unity. The Google Doodle is a wonderful reminder of the legacy of this ancient festival. With time it spread to other countries. Today it is celebrated by people of many different religions and nationalities in Central Asia, the Middle East and even parts of the Balkans.
