4th Annual Iranian New Year Celebration Norooz Slated for March 11 in Pasadena
By Terry Miller
Published: Friday, February 26th, 2010
4th Annual Iranian New Year Celebration Norooz Slated for March 11 in Pasadena
By Terry Miller
This March, as millions of Iranians and Iranian Americans celebrate Norooz, – they may be joined by an unlikely group: the United States Congress.
H.Res.267, the Norooz Resolution, was unanimously approved January 27, 2010 by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. For the first time ever, Congress is now poised to officially recognize Norooz and the rich cultural traditions of Iranian Americans.
Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA) introduced the Norooz Resolution last spring, stating “Norooz embodies the principle that each individual’s thinking, speaking, and conduct should always be virtuous. It promotes compassion for our fellow human beings irrespective of ethnicity or religion.”
When the news broke that Congress was considering moving forward with the Norooz Resolution, NIAC issued a call to Iranian Americans to write to their Representatives to tell them to immediately bring the resolution up for a Committee vote. NIAC members immediately responded, sending out nearly 1,000 letters in just 5 days and spurring the Committee to take up and pass the resolution.
H.Res.267 celebrates Norooz and wishes Iranian Americans and the Iranian people a prosperous new year. The resolution recognizes Iran’s rich cultural traditions while expressing appreciation to Iranian Americans for their contributions to society. With the Norooz Resolution closer than ever to passing Congress, the Iranian American community may have a new achievement to celebrate as they begin the New Year.
The colorful history of Iran will be fêted at the annual celebration of Norooz March 11 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 150 North Madison Avenue in Pasadena.
Put on each year by local chiropractor Dr. Nazee Rofagha, Norooz celebrates not only the Iranian New Year but the rich culture and diversity of Iran’s peoples.
There will be traditional dancing, customary foods and features speaker Jennifer Rose who obtained her PhD from Columbia Universityand teaches Zoroastrian Studies at Claremont Graduate University and Stanford University. Rose is a historian of religion.
A Zoroastrian is an adherent to Zoroastrianism, the first monotheistic religion, that is based on the teachings and philosophies of Zoroaster. Since the Muslim conquest of Persia, Zoroastrianism has become increasingly marginalized, and by the 9th century Iran had become predominantly Islamic.
During the 10th century onwards several groups of Zoroastrians immigrated to Western India, where they became known as the Parsis. Today, Zoroastrianism has its stronghold in India, but Zoroastrianism still survives in Iran proper (where Zoroastrians are now a constitutionally-protected minority). There is also a Zoroastrian diaspora, the largest groups of which are in North America and in the countries of the British Commonwealth. Although Zoroastrianism was once widespread through many of the Iranic peoples, Zoroastrians generally live as scattered minorities in Iran and India today.
The honorable Mayor Bill Bogaard will be one of the special guests attending the celebration.
Traditional Iranian music will be provided by the Mehr Ensemble and the dances will be performed by Djanbazian Dance Company.
For more details please call Dr. Nazee Rofagha at (626) 583-9116
Celebrations starts at 6pm with a reception…the programme begins at 7PM
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