Happy Persian New Year (First Day of Spring, A New Season, A New Year) 3/18/2004    In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration, or NOROOZ, always begins on the first day of spring. Nowruz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts - the End and the Rebirth; or Good and Evil. A few weeks before the New Year, Iranians clean and rearrange their homes. They make new clothes, bake pastries and germinate seeds as sign of renewal. The ceremonial cloth is set up in each household. Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise themselves with makeup and wear brightly colored outfits of satin. These Haji Firuz, singing and dancing, parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year. The origins of NoRuz are unknown, but they go back several thousand years predating the Achaemenian Dynasty. The ancient Iranians had a festival called "Farvardgan" which lasted ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that this was a festival of sorrow and mourning, signifying the end of life while the festival of NoRuz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration. The other ancient symbolic representation of NoRuz is based around the idea of the triumph of good over evil. According to the Shah-nameh (The Book of Kings), the national Iranian epic by Ferdowsi, NoRuz came into being during the reign of the mythical King Jamshid; when he defeated the evil demons (divs) seizing their treasures, becoming master of everything but the heavens and bringing prosperity to his people. To reach the heavens, Jamshid ordered a throne to be built with the jewels he had captured. He then sat on the throne and commanded the demons to lift him up into the sky. When the sun's rays hit the throne, the sky was illuminated with a multitude of colours. The people were amazed at the King's power and they showered him with even more jewels and treasures. This day of great celebration was named NoRuz, and was recognised as the first day of the year.     Technical Workshop on Drought Management Strategies, Tehran, Iran, 13 and 14 July 2003 7/12/2003    Technical Workshop on Drought Management Strategies, Tehran, Iran, 13 and 14 July 2003 The Iranian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage is organising an International Technical Workshop on "Drought Management Strategies" to bring together experts, professionals and practitioners in this field to exchange their experiences and knowledge of combating the droughts. The following subjects will be submitted and deliberated by the experts from - I.R. Iran. The United Kingdom, India, South Africa and FAO during the workshop. 1. Water Development in Drought Prone Areas with Scarce Water Resources 2. Drought Management in South Africa 3. Climate Change and its effect on Arid Regions 4. Regional co-operation for Drought Mitigation 5. Drought Conscious Development Plan for Iran. 6. Drought Frequency in Iran during the last three decades. All ICID National Committees, especially from Asian countries and members of the WG-IADWS are encouraged to participate in the workshop. Those interested can register by sending their request to : No. 24, Shahrsaz Lane, Kargozar ST. Zafar Ave. Tehran, Iran. Tel : +9821-2257348 Fax : +9821-2272285 E-mail : irncid@neda.net.ir