On March 18, public festivity took place in Baku on the occasion of the Azerbaijani people’s national holiday – the Novruz.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva participated in the Novruz festivity.

High-level participants of the 5th Global Baku Forum too joined the Novruz festivity.

The Azerbaijani President and the First Lady first arrived at the square before the Maiden Tower.

Children in national garments danced on the square. Songs performed by masters of art, praising the spring and Azerbaijan, spread around, arousing pleasant mood in participants of the festivity.

The Spring Girl presented the Novruz khoncha to the Azerbaijani President, and delivered her congratulations to the head of our state and his spouse on Novruz holiday.

Warriors stood on Icherisheher fortress walls and on the square, holding a sward and a shield, reminding us of our ancient history.

Great Dada Gorgud, giving his blessings, wished the Novruz Holiday to bring abundance to our people.

President Ilham Aliyev lit up the Novruz bonfire.

The Head of our State spoke at the festivity.

Then Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and participants of the public festivity arrived at the Seaside National Park.

The President and the First Lady were welcomed by Kosa and Kechal, main characters of the Novruz.

Kosa and Kechal congratulated the President and the First Lady on the holiday, and cracked eggs with the Head of the State.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva watched a festive concert.

The Head of the State, his spouse, foreign guests and other participants of the public festivity familiarized themselves with the Novruz Fair.

Stands reflecting our people’s ancient traditions, values and cuisine made the festivity arranged in the park more colourful. Performances of amateur groups representing various regions of our country, and examples of art aroused much interest. On the other side, young athletes were wrestling, sportsmen showing their skills. At the festivity, where ancient popular arts handed over to our generation by our great grandfathers were demonstrated, various examples of sweets - symbols of Novruz Holiday - were also presented.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and other participants of the festivity watched these scenes with great interest, saw examples of ancient popular art, Azerbaijani carpets, performances of athletes, wrestlers, listened to performances of ashygs, “Nanalar” (Grandmothers), “Rafti” amateur groups, “Natig” Rhythm group, and “Oyug” theatre-studio under the State Puppet Theatre of Azerbaijan.

The President and his spouse were shown a presentation of the “Public Wi-Fi” project.

President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva and the guests watched here the bolide of the Formula-1 competitions.

The Head of the State and the First Lady were presented first tickets to the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with Olympic champions, volunteers of the Formula-1 Azerbaijani Grand Prix and the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games.

The Azerbaijani President expressed once more his best wishes to Baku citizens who came to see him and take a holiday walk, as well as high-level foreign guests on the occasion of the Novruz Holiday.

The public festivity arranged on the occasion of the Novruz Holiday was also attended by Prime Minister Arthur Rasizadeh, Chairperson of the National Assembly Ogtay Asadov, head of the President Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and other officials.