President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva joined the Novruz festivities.
The head of state and his spouse arrived at the square in front of the Maiden Tower. Children dressed in national costume presented the President and his wife with a tray filled with various traditional sweats and congratulated President Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva on Novruz.
President Ilham Aliyev lit the Novruz bonfire.
The head of state made a speech.
Then President Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva had a walkabout in the National Seaside Park. President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva met key characters of Novruz – Kosa and Kechal. Kosa and Kechal congratulated President Ilham Aliyev and his family members on the occasion of Novruz holiday and competed with the head of state in egg breaking.
The President and his wife watched the concert, viewed “Novruz” exhibition organized by the Ministry of Agriculture on the occasion of holiday.
President Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva listened to the performances of "Natig" rhythm group and ashigs, viewed the samples of Azerbaijani carpets.
Also attending the festivities on the occasion of Novruz were Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Speaker of the Azerbaijani President Ogtay Asadov, Chief of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and other officials.
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