Norouz, the traditional Persian new year's celebration, heralds the arrival of spring throughout Central Asia, the Caucasus, and parts of the Middle East.
Happy Norouz! Welcoming The Persian New Year
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A column of cotton candy offers a flash of color to the landscape of Kabul, Afghanistan, during Norouz festivities on March 21.
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Young Azerbaijani musicians take part in Norouz celebrations in central Tbilisi on March 21.
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Locals gather around a bonfire as the torch procession winds up a hill above Aqrah, in northern Iraq, on March 20.
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Kurdish women dance during Norouz celebrations in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, on March 21.