BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 17. For the first time
since Kalbajar’s return to Azerbaijani control, residents gathered
to celebrate Novruz, marking a symbolic step in the district’s slow
revival after years of displacement, the Special Representation of
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Kalbajar
district and the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service
in the Kalbajar district told Trend.


The event, held with the participation of local families, was
organized by the office of the president's special representative
in Kalbajar together with the district’s Restoration, Construction,
and Management Service, with support from the Ministry of Culture.
Officials said the celebration was intended to restore a sense of
normalcy and strengthen community ties as reconstruction efforts
continue.


The gathering opened with a minute of silence in memory of the
martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country’s territorial
integrity, followed by the performance of the national anthem. The
President’s Special Representative in Kalbajar, Bashir Hajiyev,
addressed residents at the celebration venue, congratulating them
on the Novruz holiday and conveying his best wishes.


In a newly rebuilt residential area, a large samani, a
traditional Novruz symbol of renewal, was displayed, and a bonfire
was lit as music from the zurna, balaban, and naghara filled the
square. Performers from the “Goygol” State Song and Dance Ensemble,
named after Fikrat Amirov, presented traditional dances such as
“Uzundere,” “Jangi,” and “Daghli.”







Children participated in traditional egg-cracking games,
preserving Novruz customs. Folklore elements, including the “Maral
(Deer) game,” added a distinctly local character to the
celebration. An ashug, appearing as the legendary Dede Gorgud,
played the "qopuz" and offered blessings, while the comic figures
Kosa and Kechal and a Spring Girl performance entertained younger
attendees.


Set against the backdrop of ongoing reconstruction, the
celebration reflected both the challenges and aspirations of a
region seeking to rebuild not only its infrastructure but also its
social fabric.


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