Erdoğan lights Nevruz fire and jumps over it during celebrations
AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended the 'March 21 Nevruz Day Commemoration Program' held at the Istanbul Haliç Congress Center, performed the traditional ritual by lighting the Nevruz fire. Erdoğan participated in the celebrations by jumping over the fire.
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AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik had previously announced in a statement that a Nevruz program would be held with the participation of President Erdoğan. At today's event, it was observed that Erdoğan lit the Nevruz fire again after 18 years. The President last lit the fire and jumped over it during a Nevruz program held in Ankara in 2007.
At the event, Erdoğan and Çelik jumped over the lit Nevruz fire. Various performances and concerts were also held as part of the program.
AKP Deputy Chairman Kürşad Zorlu made the following remarks in a statement yesterday:
'Our President will light the first fire. The program will include Nevruz rituals. Concerts and performances will be held during the indoor event. The program will conclude with our President's speech. Since we are in the month of Ramadan, we have prepared a program that takes this sensitivity into account. This will be a first.'