KATHMANDU: Six various UN-declared international days are being marked throughout the world today.

They are the World Poetry Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the International Day of Forests, the World Day for Glaciers, the World Down Syndrome Day, and the International Day of Nowruz.

The World Poetry Day is celebrated recognizing the importance of poetry in “our common humanity” and its “unique ability” to “capture the creative spirit of the human mind”, according to UNESCO.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed aiming to promote the fight against racial prejudice and discrimination worldwide. The International Day of Forests is observed to raise awareness about the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability, and food security.

Starting in 2025, March 21st is designated as World Day for Glaciers, aligning with the World Water Day campaign theme of “Glaciers’ preservation”.

Similarly, World Down Syndrome Day is dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating the lives of people with Down syndrome. Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on 21 March.

It is celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature, according to the United Nations.

The International Day of Nowruz promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.