An Afghan man walks during the first day of the Nowruz, or Persian New Year, in a hilltop overlooking of Kabul on March 21, 2018. Pic/ AFP PHOTO

The message and the spirit of Nowruz assumes greater importance and significance as the world grapples with innumerable conflicts, rise of xenophobia and the refugee crisis, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. Addressing the annual Nowruz celebration here yesterday, Guterres said people across the world recognise that nothing in is more important than the spirit of Nowruz.