The second night of the Sixth International Nowruz Diplomacy Conference took place at Tehran’s historic Sanglaj Hall, coinciding with Iran’s Yalda celebration. The evening centered on awarding the Nowruz Plaque to individuals recognized for advancing cultural dialogue and social solidarity. Created to unite elites from the Nowruz civilizational sphere, the plaque also fosters exchange with cultural figures worldwide. Its symbol, the “Nowruz Swallow,” represents love, empathy, and shared humanity.

Founder Abed Akbari said the initiative aims to honor those who strengthen bonds among nations, noting that past recipients come from more than 30 countries. This year’s edition adopted a new format, “From Yalda to Nowruz,” reflecting recent national challenges and emphasizing culture as a borderless language. The series opened with a scholarly discussion on the economics of festivals across the Nowruz region.

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