WANA (Mar 25) – Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent proposal to designate March 21 as the “Day of Commemoration and Shared Celebration of the Turkic World,” cultural and international reactions have emerged.

 

However, Nowruz was officially registered as a UNESCO World Heritage tradition in 2009, recognized by 13 countries, including Turkey. The key question remains: can a festival, acknowledged by the UN as a symbol of “good neighborliness, reconciliation, and solidarity,” be rebranded by a single nation?

 

Iran’s Leadership in the Nowruz Dossier

Atousa Momeni, head of the Tehran-based Regional Research Center for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, emphasized Iran’s central role in Nowruz’s UNESCO registration.

 

Iran, alongside seven countries, initiated its inclusion in 2009 as a multinational cultural heritage element. Iran was assigned leadership of the dossier, and despite later discussions on rotating this role, member states insisted on Iran’s continued coordination.

 

In 2014, five additional countries joined the dossier through Iran’s facilitation, expanding it to 12 nations—one of UNESCO’s largest multinational heritage files. In 2024, Mongolia also requested inclusion, undergoing the process under Iran’s guidance, bringing the total to 13.

 

Iran’s Endorsement Remains Essential

Until recently, countries seeking to join the Nowruz dossier could only do so via Iran’s national quota in UNESCO’s intergovernmental committee.

 

While a new process allows nations to use their own quotas, formal nominations, and submissions to UNESCO still require Iran’s approval. Applicant countries must engage with Iran, submit an official request, and, after review, have their case presented by Iran to UNESCO.

 

Nowruz as a Transcultural Heritage

Momeni highlighted Nowruz’s border-crossing nature, rooted in Iranian and Islamic values, promoting peace and unity. However, under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention, a country’s formal inclusion in the Nowruz dossier follows a strict legal framework, maintaining Iran’s leadership.

 

Iran ensures Nowruz’s authenticity while managing its structured expansion. Countries must provide verified evidence of Nowruz’s presence in their culture, which undergoes review in Iran before submission to UNESCO. This process reinforces Iran’s role as the guardian and coordinator of Nowruz’s global heritage status.