Azerbaijani community celebrates Novruz in Georgia
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The Azerbaijani community of Georgia is celebrating Novruz today – an ancient new year festival that symbolises the coming of spring and rebirth.
To mark the occasion President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili visited the city of Marneuli in Georgia’s southern Kvemo Kartli region which is predominantly populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis.
Traditionally on this day, Georgia’s President and Prime Minister travel to Marneuli together to celebrate Novruz with locals. Photo: President's press office.
Kvirikashvili called Georgia’s Azerbaijani community "an asset of the country” and said that "we are one family”.
"We are building our homeland together and always stand by each other. I am sure that future generations will build an even better country together, hand in hand”, Kvirikashvili said.
Kvirikashvili also commended Georgian Azerbaijanis for helping Georgia maintain close ties with Azerbaijan.
A number of festive events will take place throughout the day in Marneuli today.
A great variety of performances entertain people in Marneuli on this day. Photo: President's press office.
Traditionally on this day, Georgia’s President and Prime Minister travel to Marneuli together to celebrate Novruz with locals.
Azerbaijanis are the largest ethnic minority group in Georgia. Latest statistics reveal there are about 285,000 Azerbaijani people living in the country, which makes up nearly seven percent of the whole population.
Most Georgian Azerbaijanis live in rural areas like 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, which is inscribed in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is annually celebrated by Georgian Azerbaijanis.
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.
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.
Georgia’s Prime Minister has congratulated Georgian Azerbaijanis on their national holiday, Novruz, and promised wellbeing for each Azerbaijani family in Georgia.
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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 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.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili and Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze have sent kind wishes to the Muslim community of Georgia on Eid-al-Fitr. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said in her Twitter post,’Georgia remains one of the few places in the world where Shiites and Sunnites pray together.’
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.