Happy Nowruz 2025: Google celebrates Persian New Year with a special Doodle

Google is celebrating this year's Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with a special Doodle illustrated by guest artist Pendar Yousefi. The festival is being observed on March 20, precisely at 2:31 pm IST, which coincides with the spring equinox. The festival, which marks the beginning of the new year in the Persian calendar, has been observed for over 3,000 years.

Nowruz means "new day" in Persian. The day has its roots in Zoroastrianism and ancient Persian culture. The festival symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and the triumph of light over darkness. The day signifies new beginnings and families gather to observe cultural festivities.

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In 2010, UNESCO added Nowruz to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the United Nations recognises March 21 as International Nowruz Day.

On this day, about 300 million people across Iran, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Turkey, and parts of South Asia celebrate withe festival.

Google, in its description of the Doodle, explained that central to Nowruz traditions is the haft-sin table, a display of seven symbolic items each beginning with the Persian letter 'sin. These include sprouts for rebirth, wheat pudding for strength, olives for love, berries for the sunrise, vinegar for patience, apples for beauty, and garlic for health.

People also engage in spring cleaning for a fresh start, decorating eggs, and even leaping over a bonfire which is believed to cleanse energy from last year and invite vitality in the future.

In the lead up to Nowruz, families engage in Khaneh Tekani, or "house cleaning," to cleanse their homes and spirits for the new year. On Chaharshanbe Suri, the last Wednesday before Nowruz, people jump over bonfires, chanting “Zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man” (“My paleness to you, your redness to me”), symbolizing the purification of the body and soul.

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The festive celebrations go on for 13 days, culminating in Sizdah Bedar, when people spend the day outdoors in nature, enjoying picnics and releasing their Sabzeh into running water to carry away bad luck. Traditional dishes like Sabzi Polo Ba Mahi (herbed rice with fish) and Kuku Sabzi (herb frittata) are prepared for the holiday feast.