The Nawruz Festival, also known as Nowruz, is celebrated for several reasons deeply rooted in history, culture, and spirituality. It is a spring festival that marks the beginning of the Iranian New Year and is observed by many communities across Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia.

I apologize for the confusion earlier. It seems there was a misunderstanding, and I can provide information about the Nawroz Festival, which is sometimes spelled as Nowruz or Nooruz. Nowruz is an ancient Persian New Year festival that is celebrated by various ethnic groups, primarily in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and among the Parsi community in India. It is also celebrated by communities in other parts of the world, including the diaspora.

Nowruz is celebrated on the first day of the Iranian calendar, which falls around March 20th or 21st, corresponding to the vernal equinox. The festival marks the beginning of spring and is a time for renewal, hope, and festivities.

Reasons to celebrate Nowruz include:

1. Celebration of Spring: Nowruz is a celebration of the arrival of spring, symbolizing renewal, growth, and the defeat of winter. It is a time for cleaning homes, wearing new clothes, and decorating with colors that represent the arrival of a new season.
2. Personal and National Renewal: The festival is seen as a time for personal reflection and improvement. It is also a time to resolve conflicts, apologize to others, and make amends. On a national level, it is a time to reflect on the progress and challenges of the past year and to look forward to the year ahead.
3. Family and Community: Nowruz is a family-oriented festival, where people come together to celebrate with feasts, music, and dances. It is a time for visiting relatives and friends, exchange gifts, and share blessings. The festival brings communities together, fostering a sense of unity and shared cultural identity.
4. Traditions and Customs: The festival is steeped in tradition and has numerous customs associated with it, such as setting a Haft Sin table (a table with seven items, each representing an element of nature or a human quality), lighting a candle, and performing the special Nowruz dance called “Sama.”

International or ethnic groups that celebrate Nowruz include:

• Iranians: Nowruz is the most important festival in Iran, marking the start of the new year.
• Afghans: Although Nowruz is not an official public holiday in Afghanistan, it is celebrated by many Afghans, particularly those from Hazara and Tajik backgrounds.
• Tajiks: In Tajikistan, Nowruz is a public holiday and is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
• Turkmen, Uzbeks, and Kyrgyz: These Central Asian communities also celebrate Nowruz, each with its own unique traditions and customs.
• Parsis: A small community in India and Pakistan, Parsis celebrate Nowruz with their own rituals and customs, making it one of their most important festivals.
• China: It is a traditional festival of the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tajiks, etc. in Xinjiang. This festival starts on March 21 every year and lasts for 3 to 15 days.

The celebration of Nowruz has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, reflecting its significance not only for the Iranian community but also for many other ethnic groups around the world.