Georgia celebrates Novruz together with its Azerbaijani citizens
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Georgia’s Azerbaijani community, together with their fellow Georgian citizens, is today celebrating Novruz - a New Year festivity that symbolises the coming of spring and rejuvenation.
To mark the occasion President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili visited Marneuli, a small town in the Kvemo Kartli region of southern Georgia which is predominantly populated by Georgian Azerbaijanis.
Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili (L) and President Giorgi Margvelashvili light a fire - an integral part of Novruz celebrations - in Marneuli, Georgia. Photo by President's press office.
The leaders congratulated locals on their national holiday in Azerbaijani language and promised well-wishes for each Azerbaijani family in Georgia.
President Margvelashvili hugs an Azerbaijani woman during the Novruz celebration in Marneuli, Georgia. Photo by President's press office.
"Our fellow citizens, I congratulate you on this great day bringing spring, rejuvenation, love and joy,” Kvirikashvili said.
He noted Georgians and Georgia’s Azerbaijanis were meant to build the country together.
"We share this homeland and present and we should build a brighter future together,” the PM said.
Traditionally on this day Georgia’s President and Prime Minister travel to Marneuli together to celebrate Novruz with locals.
Novruz celebration in Marneuli, Georgia. Photo by President's press office.
Novruz, which was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, is annually celebrated by Georgian Azerbaijanis.
Novruz celebration in Marneuli, Georgia. Photo by President's press office.
Azerbaijanis are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Georgia. Latest statistics reveal there are about 285,000 Azerbaijani people living in the country, which make up nearly seven percent of the whole population.
Novruz celebration in Marneuli, Georgia. Photo by President's press office.
Most of the Georgian Azerbaijanis live in rural areas like the Kvemo Kartli, Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti regions of southern and eastern Georgia. In addition, there is also a large historical Azerbaijani community in the capital city of Tbilisi.
Novruz is an ancestral festivity marking the New Year and the beginning of spring across a vast geographical area covering Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Georgian Azerbaijani people are celebrating their national holiday, Novruz, today. Novruz is a New Year celebration that symbolises the coming of spring and rejuvenation.
Georgia’s Prime Minister has congratulated Georgian Azerbaijanis on their national holiday, Novruz, and promised wellbeing for each Azerbaijani family in Georgia.
The country’s leaders congratulated Georgian Azerbaijanis on Novruz, a New Year celebration, and Yazidis on Kloche Sare Sale which represents the coming of sprin
Georgia’s Muslim population are today celebrating a major religious holiday, Eid al-Adha. The festival is known as Kurban Bayram among Georgia’s Muslims.
The Azerbaijani community of Georgia is celebrating Novruz today – an ancient new year festival that symbolises the coming of spring and rebirth.
The Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and President Giorgi Margvelashvili have sent warm wishes to the country’s Azerbaijani population on the holiday of Novruz.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili visited Gardabani in Georgia’s eastern region of Kvemo Kartli to congratulate the local Azeri population on the holiday of Novruz.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has sent his warm wishes on Novruz to the local Azerbaijani population in the Marneuli district of eastern Georgia in the Azerbaijani language and stated that the country’s strength is in its diversity.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has told the local Azerbaijani population in the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia that she would not speak with them in Russian.
Georgian officials have sent their warm wishes to everyone but especially ethnic Azerbaijani citizens of Georgia who celebrate Novruz today. Novruz, an ancient holiday marking the beginning of spring, is inscribed in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.