• Jamshedi Navroze is one of the three main festive days in the Parsi Calendar. The others being Parsi New year in August and Khordad Saal, the birthday of Zarathustra.
• Mumbai: “New Year binds you with family and religion, and it certainly takes me back to my childhood,”
• Karachi : The Zoroastrian (Parsi) community celebrated the religious festival of Navroze.
• Navroze used to be a national holiday in India, but as the number of Parsi people decreased its no longer a national holiday.
• “We must have sweetened sev (vermicelli) and dahi, for breakfast loaded with badams and raisins too”

Jamshedi Navroze: Parsis welcome the Spring

desicritics.org

Navroze is one of the oldest known festivals of the Parsis. Firdausi, in his Shah Namesh, Book of Kings, attributes its origin to the legendary King of Persia, Jamshed son of Tehmooraz of the Peshdadian dynasty in Iran. Persia was ruled by many dynasties, the last being the Zoroastrians.

It is said that Jamshed was a great king and cared for the welfare of his subjects. Though there were no clocks to measure time, the King sought the help of the great astronomers and mathematicians of his day who devised a calendar which was known as the “Tacquim-e-Nowrooze-e-Sheheriyari”.

Nawaz on Navroze

dnaindia.com

Mumbai: It’s an early start to the day for Nawaz Modi Singhania, wife of industrialist Gautam Singhania, just like when she was younger, she says.

“New Year binds you with family and religion, and it certainly takes me back to my childhood,” smiles Nawaz, recalling her precious moments spent as a child.

Parsis celebrate Navroze

thenews.com.pk

The Zoroastrian (Parsi) community in Karachi celebrated the religious festival of Navroze on Saturday with due reverence. The day holds special significance for the Baha’i, Ismaili, Iranian and Shi’a communities.

Parsi households commence with special breakfast, mainly ‘Ravo’ prepared with suji, milk and sugar. Apart from this, there is a custom to spread the Haft-Seen – a large platter filled with seven dishes – each beginning with the Persian letter seen. Eggs and a bowl of water containing live fish, a silver coin, some flowers and painted eggs are also kept along with food to symbolize creation, wealth and productivity for the year ahead.

Radio Free Europe Interviews Arzan Sam Wadia on Navroze

parsikhabar.net

(mostly in Persian/Farsi, some in English)

Navroze used to be a national holiday in India, but as the number of Parsi people decreased its no longer a national holiday.  According to Unesco, today there are 70,000 Parsis and the population is still decreasing at a rate of 5 deaths for every newborn.
Some religious redefinitions - like being Parsi from mother’s side and allowing new people to join Zoroastrians - are being investigated by the community.

There is nothing like Parsi Bhonu

parsikhabar.net

“We must have sweetened sev (vermicelli) and dahi, for breakfast loaded with badams and raisins too,” informs Pearl. Of course, lunch is dhan dal as usual with a prawn or fish patia. That follows other delicious fare — chicken farcha (fried chicken), patra ni machi (steamed fish wrapped in banana leaf), sali murghi (spicy chicken with fine potato crisps), jardaloo sali boti (boneless mutton in an onion and tomato gravy with apricots and potato strips) and cutlets.

Ismaili Navroz

Canada’s Conservative MP and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney sends birthday greetings to His Highness the Aga Khan and Khushiali greetings to the Shia Ismaili Muslim community.

• The Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre hosted the 2nd Annual Newroz reception on Monday at the House of Commons.
• This year Kurds in London celebrated Newroz, Kurdish New Year, in famous Trafalgar Square. By Kurdish standards it was quite a restrained affair there were no Newroz fires, no fire works (casualties of health and safety obsessed Britain)
• Newroz Festivities in Diyarbakır Will Indicate Election Results
• One Festival, Two Celebrations: Novruz Highlights Political Tensions in Turkey
• Five-Day Newroz Celebrations in 66 Places
• Kurdish New Year events in Southern California

Annual Newroz Reception held at House of Commons

londragazete.com

The Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre hosted the 2nd Annual Newroz reception on Monday at the House of Commons. Lord William Wallace said “Turkey is having problems with Kurdish people and this is because of Kurdish community is broadcasting more and more. I wish a happy Newroz to all.” Lord Dholakia wished a happy Newroz   to all the Kurdish community adding “Turkey must release Abdullah Ocalan and then the connections between Turkey and EU will start to improve, otherwise Turkey will have hard time if there is no resolution.”

Peace Now! Unban the PKK!

kurdishaspect.com

Some 10,000 Kurds and their friends gathered to see and hear a programme of music, dance and speeches to welcome in the new year….By Kurdish standards it was quite a restrained affair there were no Newroz fires, no fire works (casualties of health and safety obsessed Britain), and the cry for relief from the centuries of oppression Kurds have suffered in their homeland was enacted through an expression of cultural pride.  …The PKK continues its defense despite its political “banning” by Britain, the E.U. and the United States as a “terrorist organization”.

Newroz Festivities in Diyarbakır Will Indicate Election Results

bianet.org

Talking to bianet on tomorrow’s Newroz (spring day) celebrations in Diyarbakır, Demirbaş said: “This year festivities are more important because of the elections. The elections are going between the state and Kurds. If they don’t harm Newroz enthusiasm with provocations, attendance to the festivities will be an indication of the election results.”

One Festival, Two Celebrations: Novruz Highlights Political Tensions in Turkey

jamestown.org

This year’s celebrations in Turkey showed that this cultural event still remains highly contested politically, and reflects Turkey’s challenges over the Kurdish question.

Turkish state, helped by improvements in the conditions of the Kurds, has restored the reputation of Novruz. Indeed, Turkey has taken significant steps to allow greater Kurdish minority rights, such as setting up a TV channel broadcasting in Kurdish on the state-run TRT network. Nonetheless, Novruz still remains a politically significant event for Turkey’s Kurdish population, and Kurdish nationalists resist attempts by the state to co-opt Novruz. … The DTP staged a demonstration in Diyarbakir on March 21, which it claimed to be the largest-scale Novruz celebration in the Middle East.

Five-Day Newroz Celebrations in 66 Places

bianet.org

Newroz is a spring festival, also celebrated in Iran and Central Asia. It has become a symbol of Kurdish resistance, and previous years have witnessed violent clashes between Kurdish protesters and security forces.

The Turkish government has attempted to claim the day as its own, calling it “Nevruz” (as the “w” is clearly part of the Kurdish and not the Turkish alphabet).

Kurdish New Year events in Southern California

Those who have integrated celebrating Spring Equinox include nations that speak languages such as Afghani, Armenian, Arabic, Assyrian, Azari, Baluchi, Caldanian, Kurdish, Jewish, Persian, Tajiki, Turcoman, Turkish, etc. Members of these and all other nations are welcome to join any or all of the following events and share the joy of Newroz with the Kurdish Community.

• Prohibited but celebrated discreetly during its years as a Soviet republic, Novruz is now one of the most anticipated holidays to be openly marked in Azerbaijan.
• Novruz celebration in New York, representatives of the communities and diplomats attended the event.
• Exhibition organized by Russian Regional Society of Azerbaijani Women in Moscow (in the foyer of “Baki” cinema) on occasion of Novruz holiday
• Sheikh of all Caucasus congratulates Azerbaijani people on Novruz holiday

http://www.azcookbook.com/

Azerbaijan ’s Novruz

globalvoicesonline.org

[…] the fact that Novruz transcends nationalities, cultures and religions is most remarkable. […] The fact that Shia Islam had adopted, nurtured and saved this great day, with all its traditions intact is most amazing. While Christianity had changed pagan holidays and made them their own, […] Islam could not and would not do that.

In Azerbaijan, a country with a Shi‘ite Muslim majority population, nine days holiday were declared instead of the normal five.

Novruz celebration in New York

en.apa.az

Representatives of the communities and diplomats attended the event, APA US bureau reports. Addressing the opening ceremony, chairwoman of the Azerbaijani Society of America Tomris Azeri spoke about the history of Novruz Holiday and its importance for the Turkic peoples. Azerbaijani ambassador to UN Agshin Mehdiyev noted that Novruz is the incoming of spring and symbol of unity and reconciliation. He wished peace and welfare to the Turkic world.

Exhibition organized by Russian Regional Society of Azerbaijani Women in Moscow on occasion of Novruz holiday

en.apa.az

Exhibition was organized in the foyer of “Baki” cinema in Moscow on the occasion of Novruz holiday. APA’s Russia bureau reports that the exhibition was organized by Russian Regional Society of Azerbaijani Women. Eldar Guliyev highly appreciated the exhibition held in Russia on the eve of Novruz holiday.

Sheikh of all Caucasus congratulates Azerbaijani people on Novruz holiday

news-en.trend.az

Sheikh of all Caucasus and Caucasus Muslims Clerical Office chairman Allahshukur Pashazade congratulated Azerbaijani people on Novruz holiday.

“Wise Azerbaijani people will decide whether to make certain amendments to improve the Constitution on the eve of the Novruz Holiday.”

• Tajikistans’s Opera-Ballet (The Sadriddin Aini State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater) is scheduled to re-open in connection with the Novruz holiday, on the playbill is 1975 opera “Rudaki”.
• Turkmenistan concerts, theatrical shows, exhibitions and soirees are being held throughout the country.
• First female football championship kicks off in Turkmenistan on  Nowruz.

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Tajikistan: Despite hard times Opera-Ballet to reopen for Novruz

eurasianet.org

Tajikistan’s Opera-Ballet is scheduled to re-open in connection with the Novruz holiday.  On the playbill: Sharofiddin Saifiddinov’s 1975 opera “Rudaki,” which commemorates the life and work of the 9th century Persian poet born in what is now Tajikistan.

By the late Soviet period, the building was in an advanced state of decay due to decades of neglect. The moment of its salvation came in 2003, following a performance of the opera “Rustam and Sohrab,” which draws on the work of the 11th century Persian poet Abdulqasim Firdowsi. Tajik President Imomali Rahmon happened to be in attendance, and was appalled to find the theater in such decrepit condition. The president is said to have decided that immediate action was needed to save the facility, when he witnessed an equipment malfunction during the performance.

Turkmenistan celebrates Nowruz spring holiday

turkmenistan.ru

Turkmenistan concerts, theatrical shows, exhibitions and soirees are being held throughout the country.

“Nowruz Bayramy, which is part of social life of the state and newest history of Turkmenistan as a national spring holiday, inspires all who work with honesty and enthusiasm to new victories and successes in the epoch of new revival and great transformations. Life is blossoming with Nowruz. Farmers lay the foundation for future yields of wheat and vegetables on this sacred soil of our ancestors.

First female football championship kicks off in Turkmenistan

turkmenistan.ru

The tournament was organized by the Football Federation and the State Sport Committee on Tourism and Sport on the occasion of Nowruz spring holiday.

• 20,000 vacationers from Iran have traveled to Armenia
• A $100 million Iranian community center in San Jose. Santa Clara County, the third-largest population of Farsi speakers in U.S.A.
• Mayor Bogaard declares ” Norooz a Pasadena Tradition”
• Smithsonian’s Freer Norouz  to accommodate about 1,000 people, but more than 7,000 people showed up.
• I save the entire year to spend for Nowruz
• For years, nobody had talked about Chaharshanbe Suri on state-run TV
• “burn away” a year’s worth of sin during the Chaharshanbeh Soori festival in Dubai
• So if London’s parks are full of picnicking Middle Eastern types (Hyde Park…) this evening, you will know what’s afoot.
• Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Seoul, to celebrate the coming of “Norouz”  hosted by Iranian Embassy

Thousands From Iran Celebrate Novruz In Armenia

www.huliq.com

Armenian Public Radio reports that close to 20,000 vacationers from neighboring Iran have traveled to Armenia to celebrate Novruz, the Iranian New Year in Armenia due to liberties, affordability and warm weather.
The residents of the capital of Armenia Yerevan see many more tourists from Iran during this time of the year than they normally do. The reason is that many Iranians have chosen Yerevan to celebrate Novruz

Iran festival brings plenty of people, music and food to Los Gatos park

www.mercurynews.com

What is not well known is that the Bay Area, and particularly Santa Clara County, has one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities — the third-largest population of Farsi speakers among the nation’s 3,100 counties, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. The Bay Area has more than 35,000 residents of Iranian ancestry, up about 12 percent since. One goal of the NoRouz Festival is to raise enough money to open a $100 million Iranian community center in San Jose, said Matt Kamkar, vice chairman of the San Jose Planning Commission, and the head of the NoRouz Festival’s organizing committee.

Iranian New Year Celebrations at All Saints Church Draw Large Crowd

beaconmedianews.com

The event is always peppered with traditional dance, music,  food and interesting speakers. This year was no exception. As Mayor Bill Bogaard proclaimed in the beginning of the program that “Norooz is now a Pasadena Tradition.” The two key speakers this year were  renowned British Archeologist  Dr. David Stronach  and JPL  Astronomer Trina Ray who discussed her view of the Vernal Equinox.

Aunt Naheed’s recipes for Nowruz (Iranian New Year)

guardian.co.uk

Rinse the rice several times in warm water then soak it. Bring a large pan of salty water to the boil. Drain the rice, add to the pan and boil it - stirring occasionally to stop it sticking - for 5-10 minutes so the kernels are still firm. Drain the rice and mix one cup of it with the saffron water. Finely chop the herbs. Sprinkle the fish with salt, pepper and turmeric then brown it on both sides in the butter on a skillet.

US hand of friendship means a freer Norouz for Iranians

thenational.ae

Although Najmieh Batmanglij, an Iranian-American, whose Norouz cookbook was the basis for the festival, pitched the Smithsonian with the idea two years ago, it was not until this year that it got off the ground. Nonetheless, it was considered a major success. Preparations for the freer Norouz were designed to accommodate about 1,000 people, but more than 7,000 people showed up.

To relish Nowruz, Iranians shun global economic crisis

middle-east-online.com

“I save the entire year to spend for Nowruz” says Sara a housewife and mother of three children in central Tehran. Asked if the current global financial crisis may influence her family’s new year budget, she answers “we simply don’t care much about it and just want to welcome Nowruz with all that is affordable for us”. Many share Sara’s view in the sense that throughout ages neither drought or disease nor food scarcity or foreign invasion has prevented Iranians of celebrating Nowruz

Iran’s festival of fire – and fury

guardian.co.uk

Despite all the crackdowns over the past 30 years by the Islamic Republic, the ritual is still observed by an increasing number of people who go on to the streets to sing the traditional song: “Give me your fiery red colour and take back my wintry sallowness.”
For years, nobody had talked about Chaharshanbe Suri on state-run TV or any other official programme – the government just ignored it. People believe that if the government had accepted the festival as the former Shah did, rather than cracking down on it, many of the injuries would not have occurred.

Indiscretions, poor choices and bad deeds erased in a single bound

sfgate.com

An Iranian woman jumps over fire in order to “burn away” a year’s worth of sin during the Chaharshanbeh Soori festival in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The ritual is always held the last Tuesday night before Nowrooz, the Iranian new year. (Kamran Jebreili / AP)

On Strange Iranian Practices

londonist.com

And Iranians, being as superstitious as the next man, believe that it is unlucky to stay indoors. So if London’s parks are full of picnicking Middle Eastern types (Hyde Park being the main venue) this evening, you will know what’s afoot. So far so not-too-odd. But there’s more. This is also the day when they release their lucky goldfish into municipal ponds (not the Serpentine, surely?).

Iranian New Year’s Day Celebrated in Seoul

theseoultimes.com

Ambassador Mohammad Reza Bakhtiari Hosts Reception- A large gathering from the local Iranian community, officials and friends turned out at the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon, Seoul, to celebrate the coming of “Norouz” (Iranian New Year) on Friday the 20th of March, hosted by Iranian Embassy in Seoul.

On behalf of the Seoul Times, “Sad Saal be in Saal-ha” (Wishing 100 more Happy New Years) to everyone.

Happy Persian New Year

canada.com

The multi-course Norouz dinner is served with flatbreads and dips as well as a platter of fresh herbs. There are spring green onions, mint, basil, cilantro and crisp baby radishes, as well as various pickles such as zatun parvardeh (olives marinated in pomegranate juice and ground walnuts) and torshi e makhlut (mixed vegetable pickles with eggplant, herbs, cauliflower, carrots and onions).

• Baha’í Calendar composed of 19 months, each of 19 days
• Each of the months (and each day)  named after an attribute of God
• Bahá, an Arabic word meaning splendour or glory
• Naw-Rúz is associated with the Most Great Name of God
• Naw-Rúz is one of nine Bahá’í holy days where work is to be suspended.
• Persian Bahá’ís still observe many of the Iranian customs associated with Norouz such as the Haft Sîn, but American Bahá’í may have a potluck dinner.

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Bahá’í Naw-Rúz - Flickr slideshow

• The implementation of the exact timing of Naw-Rúz has been left to the Universal House of Justice
• Currently Naw-Rúz is fixed on March 21 for Bahá’ís that reside in countries outside the Middle East
• Baha’is date their calendar from the year 1844 of the Gregorian Calendar and 1260 AH of the Muslim Calendar.  In 1844, The Báb declares his mission in Shiraz, Iran

The Bahá’í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá’u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá’ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.

The following principles are frequently listed as a quick summary of the Bahá’í teachings

• Unity of God
• Unity of religion
• Unity of humankind
• Equality between men and women
• Elimination of all forms of prejudice
• World peace
• Harmony of religion and science
• Independent investigation of truth
• Universal compulsory education
• Universal auxiliary language
• Obedience to government and non-involvement in partisan politics
• Elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
  
  

Laws

• Bahá’ís over the age of 15 should recite an obligatory prayer each day. There are three such prayers among which one can be chosen each day.
• Backbiting and gossip are prohibited and denounced.
• Adult Bahá’ís in good health should observe a nineteen-day sunrise-to-sunset fast each year from March 2 through March 20.
• Bahá’ís are forbidden to drink alcohol or to take drugs, unless prescribed by doctors.
• Sexual relationships are permitted only between a husband and wife, and thus premarital and homosexual sex are forbidden.
• Gambling is forbidden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Naw-R%C3%BAz

Iran, Germany, kurdistan, Afghanistan, UK ,..

Sizdah Bedar, friendship with nature

Salamati-ye Shah was the first national anthem of Persia (Iran). It was used from the time of Mozzafar al-Din Shah Qajar until 1933.

It was replaced by Sorood-e Shahanshahi Iran, which praised the Pahlavis.

The music was composed by French military musician Lemaire. The new lyrics are by Bijan Taraqi which was asked by Peyman Soltani, The leader of Melal Orchestra of Iran, to write a poem for the old national anthem. This new version of the anthem is performed in October 2005 by Melal Orchestra of Iran.

نام جاوید وطن		The immortal name of homeland
صبح امید وطن		The hopeful morning of homeland
جلوه کن در آسمان		Show your face in the sky
همچو مهر جاودان		Like the immortal sun
وطن ای هستی من		Oh homeland my life
شور و سرمستی من		My passion and my joy
چهر آن در آسمان		Show your face in the sky
همچو مهر جاودان		Like the immortal sun
بشنو سوز سخنم		listen to the pain of my words
که هم آواز تو منم		I am your companion singer
همه ی جان و تنم		All my body and soul
وطنم وطنم وطنم وطنم		My homeland, my homeland, my homeland, my homeland
بشنو سوز سخنم		Listen to the pain of my words
که نواگر این چمنم		I am the nightingale of this garden
همه ی جان و تنم		All my body and soul
وطنم وطنم وطنم وطنم		My homeland, my homeland,my homeland, my homeland
همه با یک نام و نشان		All with one name and symbol
به تفاوت هر رنگ و زبان		With different colors and languages
همه با یک نام و نشان		All with one name and symbol
به تفاوت هر رنگ و زبان		With different colors and languages
همه شاد و خوش و نغمه زنان		All happy and joyfully singing
ز صلابت ایران جوان		Because of the strength of young Iran
ز صلابت ایران جوان		Because of the strength of young Iran
ز صلابت ایران جوان		Because of the strength of young Iran

Sunday, 5th April 2009
Rymill Park, Adelaide
11:30AM-4PM

Lunch and drink are available for sale. Free for public!

The Persian (Iranian) community of Adelaide consist of around 3000 individuals of several religious and ethnic backgrounds. The first Iranian family arrived here in 1967 then joined by many more several years later when a great influx of Iranians arrived in Adelaide in the early years of 1980’s. Adelaide was chosen by Iranians as an appealing living environment and academic destination. Many students and researchers later on settled here to live permanently.

http://www.persian.org.au/events.php