Congressional Nowruz
(Iranian New Year)
Reception
US House of Representatives
Rayburn Foyer
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Nowruz Reception on Capitol Hill sponsored by organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC) on March 9, 2017-Amoo Nowruz chats with staffers.
Washington, DC; March 10, 2017 – Bipartisan members of the United States Congress and their staff joined Iranian Americans from across the country to celebrate Iranian New Year (Nowruz) and to express support for a free Iran. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also sent New Year greetings to the Iranian people & those living abroad.
Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan’ message to Iranian American is delivered to the participants at Iranian New Year (Nowruz) reception, organized by Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC) on March 3, 2017.
In his letter read by the President of Iranian American Community of Wisconsin, Speaker Ryan said that he is looking forward to working with Iranian American community members, “to achieve a free Iran, and a safer, more prosperous future.”
Nowruz Reception on Capitol Hill, Foyer Hall, sponsored by Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC), March 9, 2017-Nowruz Mobarak.
Similarly, democratic leader Nancy Pelosi praised the Organization of Iranian American Communities’ (OIAC) members for advocating “democratic values.” “Respect for human rights, gender equality, religious and ethnic tolerance,” she added, “are goals that I am deeply committed to.” These values, Madam Pelosi noted, are the “driving force in effecting further change in Iran.”
Nowruz celebration on Capitol Hill sSonsored by Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC), March 9, 2017-Happy Nowrous (Nowruz Mobarak)
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi sent a video message, congratulating the Nowruz to Iranian Americans and their representatives at the Congressional Nowruz celebration, sponsored by the Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC). The event was held at U.S. House of Representatives, Rayburn Foyer Hall on March 09, 2017.
Nowruz Reception on Capitol Hill Sponsored by organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC), March 9, 2017-Mr. Mr. Afshari, prominent Iranian human rights activist, plays Santour at Foyer Hall.
Thirteen member of congress also appeared in person at this celebration. In his remarks, Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) expressed his best Nowruz wishes and called for the United States Government to designate Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen wished Iranians everywhere a happy Nowruz while also highlighting Iranian regime’s nefarious international role.
Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) also expressed his New Year greetings and said Iran “should be a center of democracy, in which the people of Iran can control their own government.”
Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) also spoke at the event, praising Iranian American community members for “their fight for democracy in Iran.”
“I want to very much again thank you for this annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC”, noted Rep. Darryl Issa (R-CA) in his remarks, because it helps members understand what Iranian Americans want is “a free Iran.”
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) also joined his Iranian American friends at their Nowruz celebration on Capitol Hill.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) congratulated Iranian Americans on the occasion of Nowruz, adding, “We are so grateful for those Iranians who believe in freedom.”
“I hope to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Iran that we can hopefully influence the government there to have a respect for human rights…and to stop exporting terrorism across the entire region”, noted Congressman Mike Coffman (R-CO).
Representatives Barbra Comstock (R-VA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Lloyd Doggett (R-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnston (D-TX), and Albio Sires (D-NJ) were other notable congressional members who participated in this year’s Nowruz celebration.
Iranian Americans at OIAC Nowruz Congressional Reception, March 09, 2017
OIAC Celebrated the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Bipartisan members of the United States Congress and their staff joined Iranian Americans to celebrate Iranian New Year (Nowruz) and support a free Iran. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also sent New Year greetings to the Iranian people & those living abroad.
In his letter read by the President of Iranian American Community of Wisconsin, Speaker Paul Ryan said that he is looking forward to working with Iranian American community members, “to achieve a free Iran, and a safer, more prosperous future.” Similarly, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi praised the Organization of Iranian American Communities’ (OIAC) members for advocating “democratic values.” “Respect for human rights, gender equality, religious and ethnic tolerance.” These values, she noted, are the “driving force in effecting further change in Iran.”
In her video message, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi congratulated the Iranian American the New Year, and urged members of Congress to designate the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) expressed his best Nowruz wishes and called for the United States Government to designate Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-CA) wished Iranians everywhere a happy Nowruz while also highlighting Iranian regime’s nefarious international role.
Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) also expressed his New Year greetings and said Iran “should be a center of democracy, in which the people of Iran can control their own government.” Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) praised Iranian American community members for “their fight for democracy in Iran.”
“I want to very much again thank you for this annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC”, noted Rep. Darryl Issa (R-CA) in his remarks, because it helps members understand what Iranian Americans want is “a free Iran.” Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) noted, “Let’s stand for freedom and justice and thus against the mullah tyranny.”
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) congratulated Iranian Americans added, “We are so grateful for those Iranians who believe in freedom.”
“I hope to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Iran that we can hopefully …stop exporting terrorism”, noted Congressman Mike Coffman (R-CO).
Representatives Barbra Comstock (R-VA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnston (D-TX), and Albio Sires (D-NJ) were other notable congressional members who participated in this year’s Nowruz celebration.
Contact: Dr. Majid Sadeghpour at Majid.Sadeghpour@oiac.org, 202-876-8123
SOURCE Organization of Iranian American Communities – U.S. (OIAC)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/oiac-celebrated-iranian-nowruz-capitol-hill-201600042.html
The Festival of Nowruz:
A Symbol for a Free Iran
The festival of Nowruz is approaching. Nowruz, or “New Day” in Persian, is a holiday that starts at the moment of the vernal equinox, when the day and night are exactly the same length. This usually happens around March 21st, but in the Iranian calendar, this marks the beginning of the new year as well as the beginning of spring. Nowruz has been celebrated for thousands of years and is not just celebrated in Iran. It is celebrated in much of the Middle East including Turkey, Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. The festival dates back to the Sumerians, who celebrated the New Year by growing barley. The symbolism of this can still be found with the growing of sprouts throughout the festival of Nowruz.
Nowruz combines traditions from many different peoples including the Sumerians, the Babylonians, and the Zoroastrians. Today, Nowruz is a unique holiday in Iran because is a 13 day festival that many Iranians, regardless of religion or ethnicity, come together each year to celebrate. Perhaps it is the unifying aspect of the holiday, or the fact that it signals the beginning spring and therefore new life, that makes Nowruz an important and symbolic holiday for many people in Iran and throughout the world.
Without a doubt, Nowruz is a celebration that hits close to home for those who are fighting for freedom for the Iranian people such as the members of Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) and the members of the Iranian opposition, NCR. Members of OIAC believe that it is important to remember those brave souls, who are far from their home, banished by the government, and who are waiting for a “new day” where they can be reunited with their homeland and their families.
Nowruz is a celebration full of tradition and symbolism. For example, before the holiday begins, Persian families create a table spread called “Haft Sin” or “the Seven S’s”. The spread contains seven items that represent different signs of spring, or new life. Each table spread contains an apple to represent beauty, sprouts that represent rebirth, garlic which represents medecine, Samanu pudding which represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking; fruit of the Lotus tree which represents love, sumac berries which represent the color of sunrise, vinegar, which represents age and patience, coins which represent prosperity and wealth, painted eggs which represent fertility, an orange floating in a bowl of water which represents the earth floating in space, A goldfish in a bowl which represents life and the end of astral year-picas, and
a flask of rose water, which represents cleansing.
There is often also a brazier for burning sacred herbs to ward off evil spirits, flowers, and a mirror, which represents the images and reflections of creation, and two candlesticks to represent different family members as well as enlightenment. The table adds color and beauty to the Persian home, to symbolize how spring brings colorful flowers and beauty to the world. The table is a tradition because it also brings the family together as they decorate the table as a team each year.
All of the items of the Haft Sin table represent, in one way or another, abundance and rebirth. It is no surprise that many Iranians, whether still living in Iran, or relocated in another country, see this symbolism as important in today’s political climate. While living under a divisive regime that imprisons and tortures many of its own people, many Iranian citizens believe that now, the message of Nowruz is more important than ever. Some Iranians look to the symbols of the Haft Sin table: beauty, abundance, love, life, as a place for hope during these difficult times. In this way, setting the Haft Sin table spread is an act of defiance against the dark and coldness they feel coming from the Iranian regime, a regime that they feel seeks to extinguish the light and life out of the Iranian people who fight for freedom and justice.
Nowruz is also a time for family and friends to get together. During the festival of Nowruz, whenever the new year officially begins, even if it is in the middle of the night, friends and families will leave their homes to gather together. It is believed that how you spend Nowruz is how you will spend the rest of your year, so you will see Iranians expressing love, spending time with their loved ones, and appreciating the beautiful gifts that they have. It is also a common time to forgive grudges with loved ones. The unifying effect that Nowruz can have on families, friends, and the Iranian people as a whole is inspiring for many people, especially considering the current political climate in Iran. Many who are involved in the Iranian resistance today believe that it is important that everyday be like a Nowruz celebration for the Iranian people; that they stick together and remain united in our love, kindness, and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
On the thirteenth day of Nowruz, many families spend the day outside together picnicking in parks and appreciating the beauty of nature. This is yet another chance to bring families and friends together, but it is also a symbol of escaping the bad luck of the thirteenth day, a number that is considered bad luck in Persian tradition. Again, this symbolism can be applied to the political struggles of the Iranian people as well, who search tirelessly for ways to escape the dark hole that they believe the corrupt Iranian regime has placed on the country. As always, the opposite of darkness is light, and the opposite of ugliness is beauty, and Nowruz can serve as a reminder to those who are discouraged that good will always conquer evil, and that even in the darkest of times, beauty, light, and life is often just around the corner.
During the festival of Nowruz, many Iranian families take the time to clean their home from top to bottom and “shake out” all of the dirt and death of winter. This is something that we can take the time to do now. By purifying our intentions, cleaning out the doubts that have formed in our hearts and minds, and refocusing our sights on the future, anyone can strengthen their heart and make room for more progress in their life.
Here at OIAC, our members hope that a rebirth of Iran is just around the corner. Just like Nowruz promises a renaissance of light and abundance, resistance fighters are hopeful that Iran’s renaissance is near. The OIAC team believes that the work that freedom fighters and the Iranian resistance put forth everyday is not in vain– though there is always the darkness of winter that needs to be dealt with, the resistance believes it is making progress and moving toward the light everyday.
We invite you all to take time think about how your own life needs a “rebirth” in this season. How can the promise of a “new day” inspire you to dream bigger, work harder, and shine brighter? All of us need to be at our very best in order to continue this fight for freedom. Nowruz gives us all a chance to reflect, purify our intentions, celebrate joy and beauty, and focus on hope.
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