Nowruz is celebrated throughout Central Asia as the official start of the New Year.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians, it is also celebrated in parts of the South Asian sub-continent as the New Year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals

This year, the International Nowruz festival held in Ashgabat will be attended by leaders and representatives from Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as high-ranking government delegations from Central Asian states on March 21.