Despite earlier opposition, public Norooz festivities in Sanandaj were finally approved and are being held with permission of the city council and the Cultural Heritage Organization.
Radio Zamaneh reports that the festival began yesterday and will be held every night in Shohada Park next to the Wildlife Museum in Abidar Provincial Park.
Several local associations and Sanandaj activists were involved in requesting permission to celebrate the New Year in a public space.
While the city council had approved the plan, the Kurdistan Province Security Council had shown opposition.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have been very cautious about granting permits for any form of public gathering.
