Concert in Rome on the occasion of Novruz holiday
A ceremonial event for celebrating the Novruz holiday was conducted at the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Rome, the Italian capital. Participants were representatives from the diplomatic corps accredited in Italy, citizens of the state, compatriots residing in the state, and local guests.
Gulnar Taghizade, Deputy Director of the Cultural Center, also addressed the gathering and told the guests about Novruz holiday, welcoming the spring.
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Italy Rashad Aslanov clarified that Novruz is one of the oldest and most valuable holidays of Azerbaijan, having a rich variety of peculiar traditions and customs, and is also widely celebrated in the country annually. It was supplemented that Novruz, the holiday of peace, concord, and love, pardons all the resentments accumulated during the past year, makes strangers friends, reunites relatives and friends, and creates a real festive atmosphere.
It was further observed that our country's most popular celebration has been included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2009. The UN General Assembly, during 2010, proclaimed March 21 as International Novruz Day. In 2011, Novruz was included in the calendar of official celebrations by the OSCE Secretariat.
The performance of ensemble "Turan Manafzade and the Seven Beauties" consisting of professional female musicians from seven nations: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Hungary was a part of the concert. The conductor and soloist of the group is Turan Manafzade, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, composer, and pianist.
Guests were invited to a reception following the concert.
