Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

An international conference was held at ANAS

On March 18, an international conference titled “Novruz: A Holiday that Unites Us” was held in the main building of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, organized by the Institute of History and Ethnology. 

The event was attended by the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli, members of the Presidium of ANAS, employees of the Institute of History and Ethnology, representatives of the Academy’s scientific institutions and organizations, as well as scientists from Kazakhstan, Iran, and Moldova and other relevant individuals.

First, an ethnography and painting exhibition reflecting the spirit of Novruz was visited.

In his opening speech at the conference, Academician Isa Habibbeyli congratulated the participants on the occasion of the Ilaxır Çərşənbə (the last Tuesday before the Novruz holiday) and Novruz holiday, underlining that Novruz has been celebrated in our country for millennia. He touched upon the etymology of the word “Novruz” and said that there are various versions regarding it, one of which is the legend related to Prophet Noah. According to the academician, based on mythology, after Prophet Noah had remained on the floodwater for a long time, he assumed the presence of dry land nearby when a swallow, according to Azerbaijani sources, or a pigeon, according to Turkish sources, returned with a leaf in its beak. Finally, the day Noah stepped onto dry land coincided with the first day of spring, and that date was celebrated as Novruz. Academician Isa Habibbeyli also noted that the prominent historian-ethnographer, corresponding member of ANAS, Haji Gadir Gadirzadeh based on various sources, gave examples of day and night being equal on that date, which match the information in mythology. He also mentioned that the word “Nov” is related to the name of the Prophet Noah and that in several cultures, it is presented as “Nov”, “Nou” and “Noy”.  

Overall, Academician Isa Habibbeyli said that Novruz is one of the most ancient holidays of the Turkic peoples, and that this significant event has been celebrated since people recognized the awakening of nature.

The head of ANAS said that the traditions of this holiday have been preserved by our people for thousands of years and mentioned that, by the decree of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Novruz was granted the status of a National State Holiday. He also noted that the successor of the great leader, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, approaches Novruz holiday with special sensitivity, congratulates our people every year on the holiday, and celebrates this holiday together with the people.  

The President of ANAS congratulated the staff of the Academy on the occasion of significant days and wished them new success in their activities aimed at the development of science.

Then, Güllü Yoloğlu, Doctor of Historical Sciences and head of the Department of History and Ethnology of Turkic Peoples of the Institute of History and Ethnography of ANAS, Alia Sagimbayeva, co-founder of Public Organization “Atamın Amanatı” from Kazakhstan, Mohammad Razzagi, an Iranian scientist and staff member of Istanbul University of Türkiye, and Yevdokiya Sorochanu, Doctor of Philology from Moldova presented reports at the conference.

At the end of the conference, together with the participants, a holiday bonfire was lit in celebration of Ilaxır Çərşənbə and Novruz. Traditional holiday music was played on the dombra, a Kazakh folk instrument, around the bonfire, and photographs were taken to commemorate the event.  

Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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