Sunday March 27, 2011, 1:00pm-3:00 pm, at the Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) headquarters: 814 Western Ave., 1 mile west of I-91 Exit 2, on VT Route 9, on the left, West Brattleboro. A free event for all ages, donations to ACCVT are appreciated.
NoRuz / NawRuz: New Day, New Light, New Year in Persian and Central Asian Cultures:
Asian Cultural Center of Vermont (ACCVT) presents an annual introduction to this ancient and current multicultural festival. Nowruz is celebrated in many parts of Asia and by Asians worldwide coinciding with the Spring Equinox with activities for all ages around the focus of the spread (sofreh) of auspicious items. No Ruz (Persian for ‘New Year’ or ‘New Day’) has been observed for thousands of years by the ancient cultures of Persia (present-day Iran), and has been celebrated as ‘Nauryz’ and ‘Navroz’ for thousands of years up to today by many peoples, countries and faiths including (not limited to) Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the Baha’i, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Kurds, Kyrgyzstan, the Sufis, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Uighurs in N.W. China, Uzbekistan, and the Zoroastrians (Parsi). Activities for this Brattleboro event include: readings from Persian and Baha’i poetry, learning Persian greetings and phrases to wish others well, henna craft, sprouted grasses and visiting with relatives and neighbors. There is also the customs of setting the special table or spread (sofreh) with seven plates or bowls containing items all beginning with the Persian sound ‘s’ and ‘sh’ all symbolizing peace, prosperity, growth and other auspicious meanings. NawRuz (No Ruz/Nauryz/Navroz/Nowruz) celebrates the arrival of Spring and is a thanksgiving celebration. Below is an example of the ACCVT sofreh: Persian potluck lunch:
