Nowruz Declared a National Holiday in Georgia

Nowruz, which marks the start of the Persian and Zoroastrian new year, widely celebrated primarily by Persian, Azerbaijani, and Afghani peoples, has been declared a national holiday, said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on March 21, reports Civil.ge.

Saakashvili was in the town of Marneuli in Kvemo Kartli region, predominately populated by an ethnic Azerbaijani population, to participate in festivities marking Nowruz.

"Entire Georgia celebrates this holiday, because you are an important part of our [society]," Saakashvili said while addressing an outdoor gathering in Marneuli.

"On behalf of the Georgian government, I want to declare this holiday as a national holiday and from now on this holiday will be marked like any other major Georgian holiday. This is a nationwide Georgian celebration," he said.