Last weekend, New York City was wrapped up in the colorful dress of the Persian peoples.

For the 12th time the Big Apple hosed the Persian Parade, where different nations with ties to Persian civilization wowed spectators with a full-blown spectacle of Persian culture and heritage. The parade participants dressed in national clothes and walked and danced to national music in New York's streets.

Central Asia, where Turkic and Persian influence fuse (Tajiks are the only geneaologically Persian people in the region but all five countries celebrate the holiday of Nowruz) was well represented. Tajik women sported fantastically pretty chakans and Tajik gentlemen donned the national joma winning the hearts of onlookers. Uzbeks and Tajiks from the ancient citadel of Samarqand showed off the vivid colours of the atlas and the adras (Central Asian versions of the ikat).

Thanks to Somon Qurbonali, who participated in the event and sent Global Voices these vibrant photos, readers can experience the colour and warmth of the Persian Parade from afar.