President of the Russian Federation Offered to Grant Nowruz National Holiday Status
The "Polylogue" Foundation for the Development of Interethnic Relations, on the eve of Russia Day, has appealed to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, with a proposal to consider granting Nowruz the status of a holiday of national significance. The Foundation's initiative is linked to the observance of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and aligns with the agenda of state policy aimed at preserving the cultural and linguistic diversity of the country's peoples. This is stated in the Foundation's appeal to the head of state.
The authors of the initiative are asking for instructions to be given to the relevant government bodies to work out possible legal mechanisms for implementing this proposal. The Foundation believes that such a step would be one of the landmark decisions of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia.
"Nowruz is one of the most ancient holidays of the peoples of Eurasia. In ethnographic and journalistic tradition, there is a viewpoint that this holiday originated in Altai over 3000 years ago, meaning it is older than all major religions. In modern perception, it primarily retains its cultural, natural-calendar, and social meaning. For many peoples of Russia, it is associated with historical memory, family tradition, respect for elders, good neighborliness, and cultural continuity," the appeal states.
"Polylogue" emphasizes that Nowruz should not be viewed solely as a regional or ethno-cultural holiday. According to the foundation, its meaning is broader: it is associated with the ideas of renewal, peace, harmony, hospitality, and mutual support.