(AINA) -- March 21 marked the beginning of the 6764th Assyrian year. The celebration of the new year is called the Akitu festival by Assyrians, and it goes back to antiquity. It was adopted by the various cultures that lived contemporaneously with Assyrians and by those that succeeded them. The Kurds and Iranians adopted the festival and call it Nowrooz.

The Akitu festival is a 12 day celebration. In the old Assyrian Calendar the Assyrian year (April 1st) began on the Vernal Equinox, which falls on March 21 in the Gregorian Calendar. The first month of the Assyrian year is April (Neesan). To align with the Gregorian calendar, contemporary Assyrians mark April first as the beginning of the new year.

See also:

The Meaning of the Assyrian New Year.
The Assyrian New Year in Pictures.