Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is a time of promise for family, renewal, and new beginnings. This day, the vernal equinox, marks a “new day” for millions of people in Iran and around the world. However, for many Iranians, there is less enthusiasm for the festival this year.
Caught between a wounded, angry but deeply entrenched regime and constant attacks from the United States and Israel that have killed thousands and destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure, Iranians have been preparing for a very different Nowruz.
“I don’t have the energy to cleanse myself of my sins and prepare my home for spring,” said Nazanin, a 36-year-old resident of Tehran, referring to the traditional spread served by families to symbolize rebirth, harmony and prosperity. “How can I celebrate when I can’t see my family?” We can’t all gather together. ”
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN (whose last names have been withheld to protect their identities), the past three weeks have been filled with despair and fear.
“In a way, time feels like it has stopped. Every day we stand on the edge of something, but we never fall, and the usual markers of time, like Chaharshanbe Suri and Nowruz, are becoming less meaningful,” Nazanin said.
Despite the war, Tehran has continued to prepare for Nowruz celebrations. The bazaar is full of products, and the scent of hyacinths, the traditional flower of Nowruz, wafts through the narrow alleys, an intuitive reminder of spring in the city.
But while some people, like Nazanin, feel discouraged as they enter the new year, others are forever filled with hope.
“It feels like the city has become brighter, even though it has been bombarded since this war began. The weather is perfect, the sky is blue, the smog has cleared. Perfect spring weather in every sense of the word. It’s as if the city knows we are going to be free,” said Meldado, a longtime resident of the capital.
In a divided society, some Iranians feel special resonance for this year’s Nowruz, with the event’s focus on cleansing and rebirth.
“I don’t believe in signs, but maybe there’s a reason why something like this happened on the eve of Nowruz,” said Ahmad, a 45-year-old Iranian resident.
He said he and his wife plan to celebrate Nowruz as usual, explaining: “These traditions are moments of happiness. We have seen so much death in the last months of this year that we feel the need to respect life and not take it.”
War is not the only thing that has destroyed this year’s Nowruz celebrations. Before the conflict began, the country was already facing dire economic conditions. High inflation and unemployment, the result of government mismanagement and decades of sanctions, sparked nationwide protests against the regime in late December last year, sparking public anger and ending in a bloody crackdown by security forces.
The economic conditions that sparked the protests have not changed. Even the basic necessities of life are out of reach for the average Iranian. The additional costs of Nowruz celebrations are prohibitive for many.
One Tehran resident said he was planning to celebrate the New Year but could not justify the expense of buying flowers and preparing traditional food. “There is enough stock in the market, but shortages are not an issue for me right now. Especially in uncertain times, buying fresh herbs, buying fish, even buying flowers is a luxury.”
The Iranian New Year is scheduled to coincide with the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Iran’s government plans to hold a national prayer to mark the end of Islam’s holiest month, which is likely to be a new show of strength and unity for the under-attack regime.
But for most Iranians, regardless of race, religion or creed, Nowruz takes center stage with new and varied meanings in times of conflict.
