ICHCAP

The 2023 International Forum on Central Asian Traditional New Year Celebrations will be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea on 15 May 2023, in connection with the ‘Central Asian Spring Festival’, which will be held on 13-14 May 2023 in Seoul, ROK.

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Center for Intangible Heritage (ICHCAP) plans to co-host the 2023 Central Asian Traditional New Year Festival International Academic Forum with three institutions on May 15 (Monday). This event was planned to compare the similarities and differences of shared heritage related to traditional New Year's celebrations in Central Asia and promote future exchanges and cooperation.

Traditional New Year (Nauryz, Navruz, Nawrouz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowruz) 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. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families, as well as reconciliation and neighborliness. Taking it into account, the current International Forum on Central Asian Traditional New Year Celebration was initially suggested by the members of the ‘Silk Roads Living Heritage Network’ Coordinating Bureau with the purpose of elaborating on shared heritage and expanding the domestic and international expert networks.

This semi-academic event is co-organized by four institutions: 1) the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat, 2) the Institute of Central Asian Studies in Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), 3) HK+ National Strategies Research Project Agency, and the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHCAP). It is a semi-academic forum that invites various experts to share their insights on the similarities and differences of the shared heritage, particularly of the traditional New Year's celebration. The main objective is to expand ways for future exchanges and cultural cooperation
The event will be held at the Seoul Campus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, where about 40 participants, including presenters from five Central Asian countries, are expected to attend. The forum will be held in the order of keynote lectures, country presentations, and general discussions.

For inquiries regarding Forum participation, please contact hufsicas402@gmail.com. Prior to Forum (15 May 2023), all attendees can participate in the KF ‘Central Asian Spring Festival’ at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul for the period of two days from May 13 (Sat) to 14 (Sun). All programs of the ‘2023 Central Asia Spring Festival’ are free of charge, without prior registration. More information can be found on the official Instagram of the Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum Secretariat at https://www.instagram.com/kf_casecretariat

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