Despite the overlap of Norouz and Ramadan, many Iranians peacefully challenged the clerical regime by engaging in public celebrations, music, and dance, while also refusing to wear the hijab.

The convergence of Norouz holidays with the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan this year has heightened authorities’ frustration with celebrants. They are expected to be fasting and praying instead of participating in what is perceived as 'pagan' festivals involving song and dance.

Celebrants dance around the tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae.

Celebration of Norouz, and other ancient festivals such as Charshanbeh Souri (bonfire night before the New Year) is not officially banned. However, religious hardliners, who have complete sway over all centers of power now, consider these pre-Islamic festivals pagan and say celebrating them glorifies the pre-Islamic Persian history and paganism at the cost of Islam. For many Iranians, however, there is no contradiction between being Muslim and cherishing the country’s rich history and heritage.

Celebration of Norouz in Kurdish city of Boukan

Authorities typically attempt to prevent gatherings at ancient sites like Persepolis and the tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae during New Year celebrations and Charshanbeh Souri, often resorting to violence against participants.

This year, despite efforts by authorities, tens of thousands of Iranians headed to Persepolis and Pasargadae to celebrate the turn of the year and the Spring Equinox, which occurred at 6:36:25 local time on March 20. Officials confirmed that around ten thousand people managed to gather there, while reports on social media suggest that many others were halted on the road to Pasargadae.

This year too, tens of thousands of Iranians flocked to Persepolis and nearby Pasargadae, where the tomb of Cyrus the Great is located, to celebrate the turn of the year, the exact moment of the Spring Equinox, which fell at 6:36:25 local time on March 20 this year. Around ten thousand, according to officials, managed to gather there in time but many others were stopped on the road to Pasargadae as social media reports indicate.

Spontaneous dancing in Parsiyan

Elsewhere in Iran – including southern cities of Bushehr and Parsiyan, Shiraz and Isfahan, locals and holiday tourists staged spontaneous dances wherever possible, including at town markets and beaches.

In many other places, particularly in Kurdish towns and villages, such as Ney, a village of around 2,500 near the Kurdish city of Marivan, huge crowds of people have been celebrating Norouz outdoors, with song and dance and bonfires in the past few days.

Participants in Norouz celebrations in Ney village chant Woman, Life, Freedom

According to Hengaw Human Rights Organization, a Kurdish rights group, in Kermanshah, capital of a western province of the same name with a very large Kurdish population, security forces shot and wounded two young Kurdish men, Arman Basiri and Mohammad Ahmadian, on March 21 for merry making at a park.

Hengaw has reported that the victims who sustained serious injuries in the legs have been hospitalized and are under security guard.

Security forces attacking celebrants in Bolbolanabad village

In Bolbolanabad, a village of around 3,600 in Kermanshah Province, security forces also attacked the crowd which included hundreds of children. In a video posted on social media gunfire is also heard.

Stressing that eating and drinking in public is prohibited during Ramadan, Governor of Kermanshah Mohammad-Tayeb Sahraei on Monday said people have a right to display happiness, “but our Islamic beliefs and guarding the modesty and chastity of Kurdish women is a red-line for us,” he added, referring to women’s participation in dances.

Young people dancing on the street in Shiraz

An official of the governor’s office in the same province on Sunday claimed that “anti-Iranian and western media” and “separatists” had used the opportunity to flout “separatist flags and symbols” at Norouz celebrations, giving them “political and security” color and “seeking to cause a political deviation”.

The office of the governor issued a statement on Monday and declared that a permit is required for any large Norouz celebration as celebrations this year seem not to have remained limited to the day of Norouz and are ongoing.

Norouz celebration at village of Karzan, Ilam Province, March 28