Iran celebrates Nowruz, festival of life, in times of war

Throughout its long history, Iran has witnessed countless wars, invasions and political upheavals. Empires rose and fell, but one tradition endured throughout: Nowruz. For more than 3,000 years, this spring festival has been celebrated in Iran. During the Achaemenid empire, Nowruz was observed in Persepolis, where the rulers welcomed envoys from far and wide.

In the run-up to this year's Nowruz celebrations, Iran's cultural treasures have been ravaged by US-Israeli attacks. Tehran's Golestan Palace — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and other cultural landmarks have been partially or severely damaged by bombs.

Ahead of Nowruz, Iran's bazaars are usually bustling. Much like during the yearly pre-Christmas rush in Christian countries, people stock up on gifts, new clothes and food. During the Persian new year holiday itself, many Iranians have about two weeks off, which they spend with their families and friends. But this year, markets and shops are eerily quiet amid the ongoing war.

The Nowruz holiday has its roots in Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions. Today, however, it is a cultural holiday rather than a religious one. It occurs every 365 days and six hours, when the Earth completes one orbit around the sun, and marks the beginning of spring at the vernal equinox.

A central element of Nowruz in every home is the "haft-sin," a carefully set table featuring seven symbolic items whose names in Persian begin with the letter "S." It is traditional to read a poem from the Divan, a tome of poems by the celebrated Persian poet Hafez, to ask for good fortune in the new year.

Before Nowruz, many Iranians observe the tradition known as "khaneh tekani." During this time, people thoroughly clean and tidy their homes, scrubbing windows and getting their carpets cleaned. This symbolizes a fresh start and is believed to bring good luck and a sense of renewal for the new year.

This year, many Iranians are mourning or no longer have a home to clean for Nowruz, including this woman in Tehran. Since the US and Israel began attacking Iran in late February, more than 3,000 people have been killed, at least 1,365 of them civilians, according to the human rights organization HRANA. Many more have lost their homes or fled the destruction.

This time of year, Iranians usually flock to this area along the Persian Gulf. Hormuz Island has long been a popular destinations for Iranians during the two-week Nowruz holiday.

Nowruz has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and has made it to the UN headquarters in New York as well. The holiday is celebrated beyond Iran by people in Afghanistan, India, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey.