Tirgan, a feast in honor of rain

Tirgan (also known as Jashn-e Tirgan) is a time-honored Iranian festival usually observed as a rain festival. Tiragan, along with Noruz, Yalda Night and Mehregan are amongst feasts widely celebrated in the ancient land.

Iran foreign arrivals up over 16% in Noruz

TEHRAN - The number of foreign visitors arriving in Iran rose 16.75 percent during Noruz (the Iranian new year holidays from March 21-April 4) compared to the same period last year, a senior tourism official has said.

Seafaring grows over Noruz holidays

TEHRAN – The number of sailings in Iran grew by nine percent during the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 16-April 4) in comparison to the same period last year, said deputy director of the Ports and Maritime Organization.

Half a million visits to Sa’dabad museums registered in Noruz

TEHRAN – Iran tourism body has registered over half a million visits to museums at Tehran’s Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5).

1.1m visited Sistan-Baluchestan during Noruz

TEHRAN – Over 1.1 million visited Sistan-Baluchetan province during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5), which shows 19 percent increase in comparison to the same period last year, its governor general has said.

Outbound tourism slumps by 45% over Noruz holidays: official

TEHRAN - Iran’s outbound tourism fell by 45 percent during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5) in comparison to the same period last year, a tourism official has said.

Niavaran complex hosts 8k visitors during Noruz

TEHRAN – A total of 80,835 people toured Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural-Historical Complex during the New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 5).

Flooding, rainfalls drop hotel occupancy in Noruz holidays

TEHRAN - Fewer people stayed in Iranian hotels during New Year (Noruz) holidays (March 21-April 4) compared to the same period a year earlier due to record flooding and rain showers, according to statistics released Monday by the head of Iran Hotels Association.

By Afshin Majlesi

Travel in Iran grows over Persian New Year holidays

TEHRAN - People in Iran made 74 million overnight stays in their domestic trips during the Persian New Year (Noruz) holidays, an increase of 20 percent year on year, Iran tourism chief announced on Sunday.

Gasoline consumption in Norouz holidays hits 2b liters

TEHRAN – Iran’s gasoline consumption during the peak demand of the Norouz (Persian New Year) holidays (March 17 – April 5) reached near two billion liters, Tasnim news agency Reported.

Over 74m overnight stays recorded across Iran in Noruz

TEHRAN – Iranians made over 74 million overnight stays during the two-week New Year (Noruz) holidays, starting March 21, CHTN reported.

By Manijeh Rezapoor 

Core of Iran Noruz in family: Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi 

TEHRAN -- Sahraa Karimi, a filmmaker, writer and photographer originally from Afghanistan, but born and raised in Tehran, says that family is the core of the Noruz celebration.

Books to read in Noruz holiday

If you dislike wasting your time during the Noruz holiday with boring and repetitive visits to a number of distant relatives and places, perhaps a book along with several cups of tea and some sweets can provide a good time and create a cozy atmosphere for you at home. The following is a short list of some suggested books.         

Chaharshanbeh-Suri: A reddish salute to new Iranian year

As every last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year comes, millions of Iranians make bonfires at sunset to jump over the fire till midnight to observe Chaharshanbe-Suri, just days before Noruz, the New Year holidays.

Should fruit seedlings replace Sabzeh on Iranian Haft Seen tables?

TEHRAN – While it has been proposed that fruit seedlings should become a substitute for Sabzeh (wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts in a dish) to avoid consuming huge amount of water for irrigation as well as grains, some experts believe that it does not have any contradiction with environment.

Travel in Iran seen to grow by 20% over Noruz holidays: tourism chief

TEHRAN – Iran tourism chief has estimated that domestic trips would grow by 20 percent over the New Year holidays (Noruz, staring March 21) from a year earlier, Mehr reported.

Healthcare scheme to be implemented during Noruz

TEHRAN – A scheme offering 24-hour healthcare services will be implemented in the country from March 16 to April 6 during the Iranian New Year holidays (Noruz), the deputy health minister has announced.

Mazandaran villages ready to host Noruz holidaymakers

TEHRAN – Necessary arrangements for hosting travelers during Noruz (New Year holidays, starting March 21) have been made in 208 villages across Mazandaran province, northern Iran, a local official has said, IRNA reported.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Will endangered Kaiser's mountain newt survive people’s hankering for variety in Noruz?

TEHRAN — Kaiser's mountain newt, the world’s most attractive salamander species, confined to western Iran, is driven on the brink of extinction due to habitat degradation as well as uncontrolled overharvesting for national and international pet trade which pace up near the Iranian New Year celebration (Noruz, starting on March 21).

‘Feast of charity’ underway at Iranian schools

TEHRAN – ‘Feast of charity’, a campaign held prior to the Iranian New Year celebration each year helping families having hard time addressing their essential needs, is underway at schools across the country.

500,000 policemen ready to ensure road safety during Noruz

TEHRAN – Traffic police teams comprising 500,000 policemen will stand guard to confirm safety by monitoring road regulations during the new year holidays (Noruz, starting March 21), road traffic police chief Mohammad Hossein Hamidi has announced.

Tehran to host handicrafts exhibit days before Noruz

TEHRAN - Hundreds of artisans from across Iran will show their works at a major sales exhibition, which will be held days before Noruz, the new Iranian year, at the Tehran Permanent International Fairgrounds.

Passage of time an opportunity to build bridge between human beings: UNESCO chief

TEHRAN - The passage of time is an opportunity to build a bridge between human beings, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has said in message to a Tehran celebration on Noruz.

Envoys, cultural figures to mark Noruz in Tehran

TEHRAN – Tehran’s Milad Tower will host an international ceremony in honor of Persian New Year or Noruz on February 28.

Iran expecting China, Mongolia to join UNESCO-registered Noruz

TEHRAN – Iran is expecting China and Mongolia to officially join UNESCO-registered Noruz, which marks the beginning of spring and the new year.

Tehran tourism exhibit offers must-see places for Noruz

TEHRAN – Hundreds of potential travelers for Noruz holidays are choosing, bargaining or even negotiating prices with travel markets at the 12th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition, which will be running through February 16.

Noruz added to Vancouver calendar of events

TEHRAN – Vancouver City Council has added Noruz, the Persian new year festivity, to its official celebrations and observations calendar.