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2011 Norooz: Nowruz Events and News Worldwide


2010 Norooz: Nowruz Events and News Worldwide


2009 Norooz: Nowruz Events and News Worldwide


Syria to make Newroz a public holiday in 2012

Kurdish-BarnstarThe government of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has promised to make the Kurdish New Year’s festival of Newroz into an annual national public holiday, starting in 2012.

The city of Qamishli (northeastern Syria on the border with Turkey, predominantly Kurdish, Arabs and Assyrians/Syriacs) is renowned for throwing a large Christmas parade every year in December, and celebrating Newroz festival by a large crowd every year in March.

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Photos: The best of Sizdah Bedar 2011 in Iran

The-best-of-Sizdah-Bedar-2011-iThe thirteenth day of the new year festival is Sizdah Bedar (literally meaning “passing the thirteenth day”, figuratively meaning “Passing the bad luck of the thirteenth day”). This is a day of festivity in the open, often accompanied by music and dancing, usually at family picnics.

 

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Northern California: Celebrate the Iranian New Year with Giant Gandhi Puppet of Peace

Celebrate the Iranian New Year with Giant Gandhi Puppet of Peace-iSaturday, April 2, 2011
Lotus Tribe, Novato 2-4pm

Come celebrate the Iranian New Year (Now Rooz)!

You and your children are cordially invited to participate in an enchanting train ride conducted by the Giant Gandhi Puppet of Peace. Our guest speaker and presenter of this international project, Jes Richardson, is a school teacher and resident of Novato, CA. 

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Photos: Flower-Bride ceremony, welcoming Nowruz in village of Masouleh-Iran

20_9001070333_L600-iSince very ancient times, it is said, the Arous Gol ceremony has been held around Gilan and Mazandaran, two Caspian Sea provinces of Iran. The ceremony is part of festivities just before 21 March and a reminder of the arrival of spring.

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Green Dance, Bowers Museum’s Norouz Festival 2011

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“Spread Peace & Embrace Unity of All Human Kinds” Dance choreographed by Anna Djanbazian, Djanbazian Dance Company.  “This dance is all about the Green Movement, news of freedom, growth of Green Movement and it’s Peaceful nature. I also took the symbol of “Sabzeh” as the core of Green Movement” Anna Janbazian.

Southern California: California State University, Northridge's Cultural Show Nowruzaneh

California State University Northridge Iranian Student associationSaturday, April 9, 2011
Encino Banquet and Gardens 4pm-1:30am

In the spirit of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) the CSUN Iranian Student association presents to Los Angeles “Save The Culture.” An elegant event to raise awareness of the beautfiul iranian culture, and to help raise money and bring about an iranian studies program at CSUN. This is a program consisting of two events on April 9th 2011.

 

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Southern California: Sizdeh Bedar at Lake Balboa

lake-balboa-persian-Sizdeh-BedarSunday, April 3, 2011
Lake Balboa 8am – 7pm

Persian food, music and performances by famous artists.
By CBM Special Events.

 

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Northern California: Islamic Cultural Center's Sizdah-Bedar

Islamic Cultural Center of Northern CaliforniaSunday, April 3, 2011
Lafayette Reservoir 12pm

Please join us for the tradition Persian New Year Picnic of at the beautiful Lafayette Reservoir.  Group picnic area has been reserved for the community.  Please bring your family, food, drinks,and your soccer and volleyballs to have a great and fun filled day at the park.

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Novruz in the residence of U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan

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Ambassador Matthew Bryza graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International relations, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. He is married to Zeyno Baran, a Turkish American scholar. Bryza is fluent in Russian and Polish, and also speaks German and Spanish, and conversational Azerbaijani language.

Maryland: Johns Hopkins University’s Nowruz Banquet

Johns Hopkins UniversitySunday, March 27, 2011
Charles Commons Ballroom, Baltimore 6:30pm

Iranian Cultural Society of Johns Hopkins University looking forward to celebrating Nowruz with all of you

 

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New Jersey: Mehr Humanitarian Society 13bedar

Mehr-Humanitarian-SocietySaturday, April 2, 2011
Liberty State Park 12pm

Come Join Mehr Humanitarian Society for 13bedar at Liberty State Park! Food can be preordered. Enjoy a day of music, food, games, dancing, beautiful view, and just great company!

 

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Photos: Spring blossoms in Sari-Iran

Spring-blossoms-in-Sari-Iran-699-iSari is the provincial capital of Mazandaran, located in the north of Iran on beautiful southern coast of Caspian (Mazandaran) Sea. Sari was founded during the Sasanid period (ad 224–651).

Native people of Sari have a folklore that the city was populated when Smith Kaveh (native of this city) revolted against the tyranny of Zahak.

 

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UN Secretary-General's Message on International Day of Nowruz

united-nations-nowruz-payvandNowruz has special meaning for many peoples in the Balkans, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Celebrated for millennia, the holiday is associated with a rich tapestry of customs and rituals linked with the arrival of spring.

 

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Seattle: University of Washington's Persian New Year Celebration

University-of-Washington-Persian-New-Year-Celebration-iFriday, April 1, 2011
Walker Ames Room  7:30pm

Join us in Celebration of Persian New Year – Nowruz – at the University of Washington Seattle Campus. Although this event is at the very end of the Nowruz, it is the first Friday of Spring Quarter.

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Sweden: Atish Nourooz Cruise

Sweden-Atish-Nourooz-Cruise-iSaturday, March 26, 2011
Slija Galaxy 8pm

On board you will feel the atmosphere of joy, good Persian food & beverage, non-stop partying and all of this together with Scandinavia’s largest Persian Club and its best audience.

 

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Video: Tajikistan Nowruz 2011 celeberations

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Tajiks consider Nowruz as their biggest Celebration of the year. In Tajikistan, Nowruz is celebrated and observed for five days. Tajikistanis from all ethnic backgrounds celebrate Nowruz with the same enthusiasm and sense of belonging.

 

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Photos: Persian New Year at the Masumeh Shrine

Persian-New-Year-at-Masumeh-Shrine-qom-01-iQom is the second most sacred city in Iran after Mashhad. Much of the shrine complex was first built by Shah Abbas I in the early 17th century.

Qom, along with the shrine were raided in 1221 by the Mongols and again by the Tamerlane. In 1519 the dome of the shrine was rebuilt and the courtyard was embellished in honour of the Safavid king, Shah Ismail I.

 

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President Obama’s Nowruz 2011 Message

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President Obama sends an important message to those celebrating the holiday of Nowruz.  At a time of great regional change and renewal, the President this year speaks directly to the Iranian people, in particular the Iranian youth.  “…you – the young people of Iran – carry within you both the ancient greatness of Persian civilization, and the power to forge a country that is responsive to your aspirations.

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Photos: Chaharshanbe Suri in Heydar Baba village Azerbaijan-Iran

Chaharshanbe-Suri -in-Heydar-Baba-village-Azerbaijan-Iran-648-iChaharshanbe Suri, also called the Festival of Fire, literally meaning Wednesday Feast is an ancient Iranian festival dating back to at least 1700 BCE. it is a prelude to Nowruz, which marks the arrival of spring.

 

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The International Organization of Turkic Culture Presents A Nevruz Celebration in USA

turksoyThursday March 24, 2011 – UN General Assembly
Saturday March 26, 2001 – New York City’s Town Hall
Monday March 28, 2011 – Lincoln Theater Washington DC

Over 150 musicians and dancers from 11 different Turkic nations will be uniting for the epic US debut concert series Nevruz. The concert celebrates the New Year holiday Nevruz, observed in most part of Eurasia.

 

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Washington DC: Georgetown University Nowruz

Georgetown-University-Nowruz-2011-iSaturday, March 26, 2011
Copley Formal Lounge, Copley Hall 7pm
Georgetown University

Join the Georgetown University Iranian Cultural Society for its annual dinner show. There will be delicious Persian food, egg painting, performances by Georgetown and local students, as well as an afterparty with DJ Arshia!

 

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Dubai: Nourooz 1390 concerts

Dubai-norooz-concerts-iSunday, March 20, 2011 – Grand Hyatt Dubai Hotel

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 – Aviation Club Dubai

Thirsday, March 24, 2011 – Grand Hyatt Dubai Hotel

Friday, March 25, 2011 – Dubai World Trade Center

 

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Connecticut: The Foundation of Iranian of Connecticut's Chahar Shanbeh Souri and Nowruz 2011

Foundation-of-Iranians-of-ConnecticutTuesday March 15, 2011
West Haven Italian American 6pm

Saturday, March 26, 2011
Aqua Turf Club 7pm
Plantsville, CT

 

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Sweden: Fire Festival & Nouroz 2011

atash-Sweden-Fire-Festival-chahar-shanbeh-souriTuesday March 15, 2011
Goteborg – Heden 5pm

Nouroz
Friday March 25, 2011
Gotenbogs Symfoniker, Stora Salen 7pm

 

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University of Pittsburgh Nowruz Celebration

University-of-Pittsburgh-Nowruz-Celebration-persian-pantersFriday, March 25th, 2011
Assembly Room – William Pitt Union 6pm

Please join us in our Nowruz ceremony, the ancient (and modern) Persian New Year celebrating the first day of Spring. There will be Persian traditional dinner, a series of very entertaining performances (more so than in previous years) and afterwards we will get to dance till we drop.

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