Armenian President Sezh Sargsyan has sent a letter of congratulations to Kurds living in Armenia on the occasion of Newroz (Nowruz) marking the first day of spring or Equinox and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar.

Nowruz is celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.

Sargsyan wished representatives of the Kurdish community health and happiness, and that all their troubles, large and small, remain behind them.

The word 'Newroz' is Kurdish for the Persian Nowruz. The Kurds celebrate this feast between March 19 and 21. It is one of the few ‘people's celebrations’ that has survived and predates all the major religious festivals. The holiday is considered by Kurds to be the single most important holiday of every year.

Sargsyan also sent a congratulatory message to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Seyed Ali Khameni, the Supreme Leader of Iran. Sargsyan, in his message, wished peace, success and prosperity to the Iranian people.