Baku is marking Nowruz. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban attended the celebrations. They arrived at the Maiden Tower. Children dressed in national clothes presented them with khonchu and congratulated them on Nowruz.
Warriors with swords and shields stood on the walls of Icheri Shekher Fortress. Dede Gorgud, national hero of Azerbaijani epos, blessed everyone.
Aliyev lighted the fire and made a speech. Then he went to the National Coastal Park, meeting Nowruz characters Kosa and Kechal.
The Eastern Bazaar was organized at the National Park. It offered handicraft products, food produced in Azerbaijan. Sports contest were set nearby. Ilham and Mehriban Aliyevs observed the products. They drank tea with sweets.
President Aliyev was presented with the first ticket to the World Football Championship of females under 17, hosted at the Republican Stadium named after Tofig Bakhramov on September 22. Tickets will be available online on April 16.
The president and his wife signed a bid for the International Olympic Committee to host the Summer Olympic Games in Baku in 2020.
Prime Minister Artur Rasi-zade, Chairman of Parliament Oktay Asadov, head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mekhtiyev and other officials attended the celebrations.
