Written by: Mahnaz Shujrah
Posted on: March 21, 2022 | 
| 中文
Sofra-ye-Haft Sin (dining cloth laid out to offer seven items starting with "S")
Jashn-i-Nowruz is the celebration of the Persian New Year, which occurs each year around March 21st and marks the beginning of Spring. The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) is a multicultural institution which promotes diversity, and this year they held an event to enjoy the festivities of Nowruz with students and the community at large. The event was organized by Gurmani Center for Languages and Literature (GCLL), with the help of Khana-e-Farang (Iranian Cultural Institute) in Lahore.
Nowruz is Persian for “new day”, and it starts the exact moment when earth passes into the vernal equinox, which in the Northern Hemisphere marks the beginning of Spring. This occurs at the same time across the northern hemisphere, and in Pakistan it took place on Sunday, March 20th at 8:33pm. It is the beginning of Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian Calendar. The festival of Nowruz originated from the Zoroastrian faith in the Iran region, but it is not limited to them only. The holiday has evolved to encompass diverse cultures and currently is celebrated by multiple ethnic groups, different faiths and nations: Kurds, Tatars, Azeris, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, Uygurs, Uzbeks, Kashmiris, Sufis, Shiite Muslims and Parsi-Zoroastrians. The customs and rituals followed reflect the origin and evolving history of a celebration which is three thousand years old.
Jafar Ronas, the Director General of Iranian Cultural Institute, Lahore
The evening was divided into two parts, a general session followed by a musical performance. The session included multiple speakers: Dr. Nadhra S.N. Khan, the Director of Gurmani Center of Languages and Literature; Dr. Fatima Fayyaz, assistant professor of Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies and Persian; and Iftikhar Wazir, adjunct faculty for Persian. The chief guest for the evening was Jafar Ronas, the Director General of the Iranian Cultural Institute (Khana e Farang) in Lahore. They discussed with the audience the historical significance of Nowruz and the many rituals that make up the holiday.
The core idea of Nowruz revolves around rebirth and restarting, and this idea is presented through Sofra ye Haft Sin (the seven items starting from “S”). Initially these items were placed on a tablecloth placed on the floor, but over the years, it often set up on a table. These symbolic items include: Sabza (grass or wheat), Samanu (sweet pudding), Sinjid (olive), Sirka (vinegar), Seb (apple), Ser (garlic) and Sumac. Along with these items, Iranians also place a mirror to represent self-reflection, painted eggs symbolizing fertility and prosperity, a goldfish in a bowl as a sign of change, candles for light and a book of wisdom for insight and consultation for the year ahead.
Persian and Iranian handicrafts
The event also included an exclusive performance by Shah Abdullah Alamee and his musical group. Alamee is an artist with a diverse range of interests and inspirations. A graduate of the renowned National College of Arts (NCA), he has received the Haji Shareef Award for miniature painting, one of the most prestigious awards at NCA. Poetry has always been an inspiration for Alamee, and he has been working on creating his own musical album in Persian. This was the first time that he performed for an audience. The group consisted of talented individuals: Jamil Ayan (tanpura), Talha Jameel (guitar), Mudasir Hussain Toori (rubab) and Lala Ahsan (tambuk). The first song was written and composed by Alamee, and the inspiration behind the song was the feeling of contentment that an artist experiences when he or she is toiling away in his or her studio. Although I do not understand Persian, I could still experience that feeling through the music and melody. Alamee also played an old Persian melody and dedicated it to his parents, who encouraged him to imbibe arts, culture, and tradition. Currently, Alamee teaches at Hast o Neest and Faiz Ghar in Lahore.
(L-R) Mudasir Hussain Toori, Lala Ahsan, Shah Abdullah Alamee, Talha Jameel and Jamil Ayan
A tradition central to Nowruz celebrations is deed o baz deed (to see and see again). Being amongst family and friends makes up the essence of the occasion, and that’s what deed o baz deed is all about. The first evening of Nowruz is spent with the family, and usually everyone gathers at an elder’s home where a feast is prepared. Over the next thirteen days of Nowruz, one must visit everyone, from family to friends to neighbors to acquaintances. Traditional delicacies, pastries and endless rounds of chai are prepared for arriving guests. While most days people go out, but one of the days, called neshastan, is when the family will be at home to receive guests. As per tradition, the elders of the family are visited first, to symbolize respect and highlight their place in the community. This tradition reminds me a lot of Eid here in Pakistan, and where a similar pattern is followed for three days of festivities.
Hand painted eggs following the Nowruz tradition
Over the last two years, communities have greatly suffered due to Covid-19, but as restrictions loosen up bit by bit, this year Nowruz becomes even more special after the seemingly endless pandemic. Celebrating diversity enriches a culture without diminishing its own individuality. Since the days of Emperor Akbar, the tradition of Nowruz is as much embedded in the South Asian heartland as it is anywhere else.
A traditional Persian style Holy Quran
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