Norouz: San Francisco celebrates Persian New Year

Sal-e no mobarak!

San Francisco City Hall was transformed Friday as several hundred Bay Area Iranian-Americans came to celebrate the Persian New Year, Norouz (year 1386). The event lineup included performances by Ballet Asfaneh, Ostad Nejad of the Nejad World Music Center, Nejad Daf Ensemble, Seemorgh Choral Ensemble, and Bazem Music Ensemble.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Luke Thomas

March 25, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO - Several hundred well dressed Bay Area Iranian-Americans attended the 2nd annual celebration of the Persian New Year, Friday, matching the equally well-adorned rotunda of San Francisco City Hall.

Norouz, as the celebration is known, is the most celebrated of all Iranian holidays. It marks the end of grumpy old winter and the beginning of spring, the vernal equinox.

The festive tradition has been traced back as far as 15,000 years ago to the mythical Persian King Jamshid. King Jamshid introduced Norouz to celebrate spring's abundance following winter's scarcity.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi - San Francisco's first elected Iranian-American - were on hand to host the event on behalf of the City of San Francisco and pay tribute to the Bay Area's growing Iranian-American community.

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Cameron Douragby, and Mayor Gavin Newsom

The City Hall event was organized by Tourquoise Bridges, a not-for-profit organization aimed at promoting Persian arts and culture in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The evening lineup included performances from Ballet Asfaneh, Ostad Nejad, Nejad Daf Ensemble, and Bazem Music Ensemble.

Seemorgh Choral Ensemble