>> Welcome everyone.
Thank you for joining
us for today's webinar,
hosted by the Nierney
Section in the African
and Middle Eastern Division
of the Library of Congress.
Today we're marking the start of
spring with the film screening,
the Spirit of Nowruz
by the renowned documentary
filmmaker Farzin Rezaeian.
Just a little housekeeping
before we get started.
If you have any questions
during the presentation,
please type them into the chat
box in your Zoom control panel.
We will have time for
questions at the end.
Now, without further
ado, I will turn the mic
over to Dr. Lanisa
Kitchiner Chief of the African
and Low Eastern Division,
who will give us her welcoming
remarks and introduction
to the division of the
Library of Congress.
Dr. Kitchiner, the mic is yours.
>> Good afternoon and welcome
to the Library of Congress.
And thank you for
joining us today.
My name is Dr. Lanisa Kitchiner.
And I have the high privilege of
serving as Chief of the African
and Middle Eastern Division
here at the Library.
The Library of Congress is the
world's largest library offering
access to the creative
record of the United States
and extensive materials
from around the world,
both on site and online.
The African and Middle Eastern
Division of the Library is home
to three unique and
interconnected sections.
The African section,
the Hebraic section
and the Near East section.
The division is the center
for the study of 78 countries
and regions from Southern
Africa to the Maghreb.
And from the Middle East and
the Caucasus to Central Asia.
Here at the Library we
celebrate Nowruz each year
by kickstarting our
Persian book lecture series.
This year we are carrying the
Persian book lecture series
to even higher heights,
by hosting our first virtual
film screening via Zoom.
Today we are delighted to share
with you a wonderful
documentary film,
appropriately titled
the Spirit of Nowruz.
Produced by a distinguished
filmmaker Dr. Farzin Rezaeian,
who is here with us today.
Through this platform, we
are able to reach more people
and more places, and to
share with them the richness,
the beauty and the
diversity of our collections
and the remarkable cultures
from which they stand.
Thank you for joining us
today, as we celebrate Nowruz,
the beginning of the
Persian New Year.
I'm now going to put you in the
very capable hands of the head
of the Near East
section, Joan Weeks.
Who will give you
a short overview
of the Near East collections,
and speak about Nowruz
traditions
in Irenic and Turkish lands.
Thank you for joining us.
Enjoy.
>> Thank you Lanisa.
I'm Joan Weeks, Head of
the Near East Section.
And I'd like to welcome you
to our celebration Nowruz
and tell you about our
section that builds
and serves collections from
the Arabic speaking countries
of North Africa through the
Middle East into Turkey, Armenia
and Jordan and the Caucasus.
And the Turkey and Irenic
speaking people of Central Asia,
all the way to the
weekers in China.
I'm so pleased that during
the pandemic we're able
to serve our digitized
collections,
particularly the Persian
language collections
with the exquisite
illustrated manuscripts
of the Library's main website.
And respond to researcher
request
through our ask a
librarian service.
We're very pleased to
celebrate the cultural heritage
of the countries we cover
with this virtual program
and today our focus is
on the Nowruz tradition.
As [inaudible] releases
it's icy grip
on the vast Central Asian
steps, large numbers of Turkic
and Irenic people
celebrate Nowruz on March 20.
Not only as the first day of
spring, but also the new year.
From Afghanistan, Iran,
Pakistan, Turkmenistan,
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan, Turkey.
In the film you will
see how families
and friends celebrate Nowruz.
And many sit up and have
seen table in their homes,
which can vary from
country to country
that basically includes
first, sabzeh, wheat,
barley or lentil sprouts growing
in a dish symbolizing rebirth.
Second samanu, a sweet
pudding made from wheat germ,
symbolizing affluence.
Third, Senjed the dried fruit
of the oleaster tree
symbolizing [inaudible].
Four, seer, garlic
symbolizing medicine.
Five, snip apples
symbolizing beauty and health.
Six, Sumac.
Sumac berries symbolizing
the color of sunrise.
And seven [inaudible] vinegar,
symbolling aging and patience.
And I now would like to turn the
program over to Hirad Dinavari ,
[inaudible] for the Irenic world
collections who will fill us
in on the history of Nowruz
and the Persian lecture
series at the Library.
Then introduce and interview
the filmmaker Farzin Rezaeian,
Hirad the mic is yours.
>> Thank you, Joan
and thank you Lanisa.
Hi everyone.
Thank you very much
for attending our live
film screening events.
I'm Harad Dinavari
Reference Librarian
for the Iranian World
Collections
at the Near East Section.
The celebration of
Nowruz and the renewal
of nature is an age
old tradition.
Nowruz tradition did we
celebrate today as it's roots
in the ancient Zoroastrian
Persia of yesteryears.
However, dating all the way
back to the Sasanian Empire.
Earlier dynasties and cultures
also celebrated arrival
of spring going all the way
back to ancient Mesopotamia.
And spring harvest
celebrations have been revered
in many places, which highlights
the significance that nature
and seasons have
played in human history.
Today though we are delighted
to focus on the Nowruz tradition
that for roughly two millennia
has shaped the cultural
landscape of many Near Eastern
and Central Asian people's.
I would like to seek
the assistance and help
of our distinguished
speaker, Dr. Farzin Rezaeian,
who can give us a little
bit more information.
He is researched, and as
you've seen produced wonderful
documentary film on Nowruz.
And essentially the amazing
film that he's created comes
with illustrated beautifully
created book as well.
But before we start
the interview,
let me quickly read
his biography just
to give you a little background.
Dr. Farzin Rezaeian is an
award winning documentary,
educational film
producer and director.
He studied sociology, political
science and communication
at the University of
Illinois in Chicago.
And then continued his study of
Iranian Civilization and Arts.
For the past 20 years Dr.
Rezaeian has researched
and written for many educational
and documentary films
that he has produced or directed
at sunrise visual innovations.
Persepolis recreated, Iran
Seven Faces of a Civilization,
Discovering the UNESCO World
Heritage Sites of Iran,
Hasaragadi, Incredible
Isfahan and Five Thousand Years
of Iranian Engineering are
his most recent productions.
I would now like
to take a second
and ask Dr. Rezaeian to join us.
There he is.
Can you hear us?
>> Yes, sure.
>> Perfect.
And I have a few
questions for you sir.
It's very nice to
see you [inaudible];
it's very nice to see you.
And to start for our audience,
let's start with what aspect
of Nowruz specifically the
tradition itself motivated you
and encouraged you to
create this wonderful labor
of love, this film?
And how - why is it
that with everyone
of your projects you create
these amazingly illustrated
books that go with them.
The Nowruz one is specifically
very beautiful you made.
Thank you.
>> Hello and Happy
Nowruz to everyone.
Please allow me to start
this saying by [inaudible],
famous Persian Poet who
lived some 700 years ago.
He said if there were no roses,
the nightingale would not
be singing in the grove.
So I would like to thank our
beautiful roses here Lanisa
and Joan.
And also tag our dear
friends Hirad and Darian
who made this program possible.
Now going back to your question.
There's this festivity, which
is synchronized at the beginning
of the spring, with the
rebirth and revival of nature.
It brings joy and
happiness to everyone.
It promotes respect for nature,
respect for the family values,
respect for the neighbor,
respect for the elderly.
It brings forgiveness, peace
and reconciliation
beyond race and religion.
So, at the same time
Jewish families,
Christian families,
Zoroastrian families.
Most families both
Suni and Shia gather
around their Nowruz [inaudible]
or Nowruz spread and thank God
for the blessings
under Nowruz table.
This is very beautiful,
very colorful
and manifests the traditions
and our beautiful culture
of the Persian culture,
Iranian culture.
This has been spreading
through vast region.
What would be more
inspiring and more relating
to encapsulate all this together
and present them in a book
and companion film
for everyone to enjoy?
>> Fantastic.
But of course you
didn't just say in Iran.
You went to huge efforts to
film this in many countries.
Several countries in
fact as we will see.
Could you tell us how much
of a challenge it was to film
in all these countries,
some of which are going
through political
turmoil as we all know?
And how long it took?
>> Well you know, Nowruz
celebrations are having
such a vast reason
for [inaudible] China
to the Balkans.
And just like Christmas, Nowruz
happens only once in a year.
So we are a small company,
independent company.
We have to gather some 21
dedicated teams of photographers
and film crew, both
camerawomen and cameramen.
And dispatch them
to various regions
in Iran and other countries.
And you know, getting
visas, special permissions
and of course financing them
through these difficult times,
especially partially because
of the economic sanctions.
I should tell you, it
was quite difficult.
But as Omar Kayongo reminds us,
you know we were able to manage
and bring them to
their hearts desire.
But he said when you
and I, with him conspire
to grasp this sorry
scheme of things entire,
would not we shatter it
to bits and then remold it
to their hearts desire.
So, we were able to bring
it to their hearts desire.
>> Wonderful.
And last, but not least,
I have another question.
I hear that after all these
years of working on films
and documentaries and books,
you are actually moving
into a new direction that your
upcoming projects are musical
and theater and the dance.
Is it true and could
you illuminate us
and tell us what
the next project is?
>> Yes, I'm sure viewers are
quite familiar with Rumi.
And know that Rumi is one of the
best selling poets in America.
One possible reason
for this popularity is
that this poets brings meter,
music, motivation and merit.
But never before has
this didactic poetry
and his special stories been
put together and showcased
in a musical theater
or an operetta.
This is actually
what we intend to do.
So we have chosen some
of his beautiful stories,
such as the Parrot
and the Merchant,
the Elephant in the Dark.
The Snake Catcher, the
Lover and the Beloved.
And put them together not only
in a lavishly illustrated book,
but also in a documentary
film, but more importantly
for the first time
as an operetta,
and musical theater it's
singing, dancing and performers.
And it is called Rooming
Illuminated by Love.
>> Fascinating.
Fascinating, fascinating.
Again, thank you very
much for responding
to these questions
and making time.
I'm especially grateful
that you allowed us
and are working with us.
And allowing us to show the
film to a large audience.
So without taking
much more time,
folks let's watch the Spirit of
Nowruz, One Family, One Song.
[ Music ]
>> I think we all
recognize that nothing
in our world is more necessary
than the spirit of Nowruz.
When you see all the
conflicts around the world,
when we see the plight
of migrants and refugees,
when we see the rise of
[inaudible] and racism
in so many parts of the world,
it is clear that we all
need the spirit of Nowruz.
[ Music ]
>> The spirit of Nowruz.
One family, one song.
[ Music ]
[ Music ]
>> Beneath the deepest snows,
the secret of a rose
is many that it knows.
Nowruz is near.
[ Music ]
>> That beautiful
rhapsody of spring.
Rebirth and love is near.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz reveals itself
at the spring equinox,
which is the time of
rejuvenation and joy.
At that time you
anticipate the Heaven's
to bestow upon us more rainfall,
making the earth more
compassionate to us.
Thus, the whole renewed world
will rejoice and smile at us.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz is an ode to spring,
rejuvenation and
breeze of light.
As the famous Persian
Poet Hafez reaffirms.
From the abode of the beloved
comes the fragrant breeze
of Nowruz.
From this breeze, if you ask
for aid you kindle the
lamp of your heart.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz marks the first
day of spring on March 21.
[ Music ]
>> The beginning of
the Iranian New Year.
[ Music ]
>> This fragrant breeze
of Nowruz is overwhelmingly
inclusive.
And ascends beyond
all ethnic, linguistic
and religious barriers.
Thus, today Nowruz is celebrated
by over 300 million people
in various countries
around the world.
[ Chanting ]
>> Including Afghanistan.
Azerbaijan.
India. Iran.
Iraq. Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan.
Pakistan. Tajikistan.
Turkey. Turkmenistan.
Uzbekistan and beyond.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz is also associated
with the spectacles of Gemshi,
the most glorious of the
legendary Kings of Persia.
His legend was recorded by the
celebrated Persian epic poet,
Firdausi, about 1,000 years ago.
And has been reiterated by
storytellers ever since.
[ Foreign language ]
>> In this epic story,
Gemshi defeats the vicious
and ruthless demons of darkness.
And brings hope and
happiness back to the nation.
This triumph of light over
darkness was then called Nowruz,
the new day or the new light.
[ Music ]
>> Symbolically, this festival
signifies the victory of the day
over the night, good over
evil, light over darkness.
>> Today as a reminder
of Gemshi's triumph
against the demons of darkness,
people congratulate each
other and joyously declare.
[ Foreign language ]
>> Or may your Nowruz
be triumphant.
>> In this moment of
spring, nature is reborn.
The powers of light are
reckon the powers of darkness.
Voice prefers over silence
and warmth over cold,
which makes mankind rejoice.
>> Meanwhile drums,
special oboe's and trumpets
which are the instruments
usually used
in military victories
are jubilantly played
in various countries.
[ Music ]
>> But is there any
actual historical
or archeological evidence
for the Nowruz celebrations?
[ Music ]
Possible clues depicting such
an unprecedented multi-national
festivity could be
found at an ancient city
in the Iranian Heartland
at Parse.
Or, as the Greeks
called it Persepolis.
[ Music ]
>> This remarkable ceremonial
center of a vast world empire.
There came on New Year's Day
the vernal equinox on the 21st
of March, many people's
representatives
of the various saint
trappings or governorships,
which Derious had
established in the Empire.
As they brought all sorts of
things, from the Ionian Greek
to the Egyptians, the
Babylonians, the Indians.
It must have been
a grand occasion
to see the various people
walking up the stairs,
coming into these
wonderful stone palaces,
bringing their gifts in
the presence of the king.
This was Persepolis.
[ Music ]
>> Their gifts of honor were
presented to a Persian King
who is depicted sitting on a
throne holding not a sword,
not a mace, but a flower.
Possibly a lotus.
As a symbol of peace
and friendship.
[ Foreign language ]
>> Here's a marvelous
embossed leaf,
which is a masterpiece
of [inaudible] art.
While that portrays the
beginning of the royal audience,
most probably at Nowruz
or Maricon ceremonies.
The king is seated on the throne
while the ceremonial chief is
offering an explanation
about the procedures.
After that, the gift bearers
would start their procession
and the majestic Nowruz
ceremonies would start.
[ Music ]
>> The continuity of
Nowruz celebrations
for over 2,500 years
is a baffling secret.
Old narratives tell us
that over 1,600 years ago
in the Sasanian Period, Iranians
would sprout certain edible
grains at the time of Nowruz.
Then, the one that grew
taller was predicted
to be more abundant
in the new year.
>> The spread of Nowruz has
to do with the fact that Iran
as it is right now,
is only a small part
of what once covered the
extent of the [inaudible]
or Sasanian Empire, or
even let's say the outreach
of Iranian culture beyond
it's prolithical borders.
So, it is not surprising that
Nowruz is found in the Balkans.
It was not brought
by the Iranians,
it was brought by
the Ottoman Turks.
The Ottoman Turks although they,
themselves were not Iranians,
they adopted Iranian
culture, Iranian literature
and they adopted also Nowruz
[inaudible] the Royal New
Year's Day.
[ Music ]
>> Throughout [inaudible]
Turkish people have been
celebrating in Central Asia
as well as [inaudible] Nowruz,
with the hope for new beginning
for a better future for all.
This event is a clear
message for peace,
inclusiveness and
human solidarity.
[ Music ]
>> Thus today Nowruz
is still celebrated
in an astonishing enchanting
manner in a vast domain.
From the Balkans and parts of
Eastern Europe to certain parts
of China and even Mongolia.
[ Music ]
>> In [inaudible] in
Western Mongolia for example,
almost 1,000 musicians young
and old gather every year,
harmoniously they
perform a joyous melody
for Nowruz celebrations
with their small,
yet magnificent string
instruments.
[ Music ]
>> For centuries
welcoming measuring's
of Nowruz have been held
with the utmost [inaudible]
throughout Iran.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
>> Hidden in the
green vegetation
of the Caspian Region
special plays are performed
to herald the defeat of winter.
[ Music ]
>> Here we conduct the play
of the Giant versus the Bride.
The giant is the
symbol of winter,
while the bridge
represents spring.
In this play, would defeat
the winter and herald
that spring has come, so that
the people can start the farming
and cultivation.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz is a time of renewal.
[ Music ]
>> This renewal starts from the
houses, with spring cleaning.
[ Music ]
>> Sweeping ditches and
cleaning water courses are also
very important.
[ Music ]
>> In Tallish for instance,
while the men purge the
waters path of dirt and mud,
young girls and ladies
scatter rose pedals
and sprinkle rose water
over the running water.
[ Music ]
>> Other welcoming measures of
Nowruz include coloring eggs.
[ Music ]
>> Sprouting grains.
[ Music ]
>> And a special ceremony
called [inaudible],
or the feast of Wednesday.
This feast is held on the eve
of the last Wednesday
preceding the new year.
And consists of pining at least
three small heaps of shrubbery
and setting them a light.
Then all the members
of the family in turn,
leap over the flames, reciting
a short rhyme of good fortune.
[ Music ]
>> My [inaudible] to you,
your readiness to me.
[ Music ]
>> Thus they throw
all malice and sorrow
into the fire to
burn and perish.
But what is the rationale
behind lighting fires?
It is partly rooted in
the Zoroastrian Religion,
which was dominant for much of
the history of ancient Iran.
[ Foreign language ]
>> In the last five days
preceding the new year,
we Zoroastrian's have
a special custom.
We clean our homes and make
preparations for the remembrance
of our dead by inviting
their souls
or [inaudible] to our homes.
Then on the eve of
Nowruz, before the sunrise,
by lighting fires on rooftops
and with our prayers we bid them
farewell and welcome Nowruz.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
>> Lighting fires on
rooftops to welcome Nowruz,
which is still performed
and [inaudible] has
undergone some changes
for the advent of Islam.
It is metamorphosed by
Iranians and [inaudible]
or the Feast of Wednesday.
This feast has been transferred
from rooftops to streets
and undergone certain changes.
But the original
custom was different.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
>> The Iranian countryside,
on the northern plains of Iraq
and on the beaches of
Los Angeles [inaudible]
and suffering of
the previous year.
And carries a promise of future
joy and a more peaceful world.
[ Music ]
>> Today, on the eve of
Nowruz lighting fires although
for differing purposes,
is still customary,
especially in Kyrgyzstan.
[ Music ]
>> In the months leading
up to the New Year's Day,
acquiring gifts for the loved
ones and Nowruz shopping,
very similar to Christmas
shopping, is very popular.
[ Music ]
>> But the most important
Nowruz tradition
in Iran is spreading
a [inaudible].
[ Music ]
>> [inaudible] is a covering or
cloth, which is usually adorned
with flowers, fruits, sweets,
mirrors and other objects.
[ Music ]
>> This spread has a
connotation to Nowruz
in the same way a Christmas
tree has to Christmas.
Although the articles on the
spread may differ from region
to region, the practice
is shared by millions
of people around the world.
[ Music ]
>> In Iran the [inaudible]
is spread on a table
or on a Persian carpet
and contains seven symbolic
items whose names usually begin
with the Persian
letter [inaudible],
which is the equivalent of
the letter S in English.
[ Music ]
>> Senjed dried Persian olive
also known as jujube fruit
for assessing matters
under the age of wisdom.
It is also mentioned that
it's fragrance stimulates love
and passion.
Seeb, apple for health
and vitality of life
as the famous goes, an apple
a day, keeps the doctor away.
[ Music ]
Samanu, a sweet pudding
made from germinated wheat,
the celestial force replete
with power and potency.
Seer, garlic for its medicinal
purposes and self-restraint.
[ Music ]
Serkeh, vinegar for solving
sour problems in our daily lives
and adjustability to
worldly circumstances.
Somaq for the organization
of life supported
by the pillar of patience.
It's red color also
represents the color of love
and the alliance of hearts.
[ Music ]
And sabzeh, sprouted grains for
rebirth and profound respect
for greenery and nature.
[ Music ]
Now let us see whether
it is possible
to discover any common
feature among these seven
symbolic items.
[ Foreign language ]
>> Every item of the Haft-seen
must have these seven features.
First it should begin with
the letter Seen in Persian.
Second, it's name must
be originally Persian.
So, any item whose name is
not Persian is not welcome
on the Surfiran.
Third, it must have
an organic origin.
Fourth, it must be edible.
Fifth, it must be accessible.
Sixth, it's name cannot be
made of a synthetic word,
like Sebzeh polo or
other compound words.
[ Foreign language ]
And seventh, it must
be long lasting
so that it would endure
throughout the ceremonies
which are held for 13 days.
[ Music ]
>> Additional items
that are frequently seen
on the Nowruz spread
are a book of wisdom.
Usually the Holy Quran or other
scriptures, coins, a mirror,
painted eggs, a bowl of water
with a goldfish, hyacinth
and traditional confectionaries.
[ Music ]
>> During these auspicious
days, many people journey
to their temples,
synagogues, churches -
[ Music ]
And mosques for Thanksgiving
prayers.
[ Music ]
>> When the Nowruz table is
set and the turn of the year
or [inaudible] draws near,
the family members sit
around the Sofreh usually
wearing new clothes.
They avoid expressing depressing
thoughts and wish a year full
of goodness, health and
happiness for everyone.
[ Music ]
>> Oh reformer of
hearts and eyes.
Oh director of the
affairs of day and night.
Oh transformer of life and human
beings destiny and conditions.
Transform our condition to the
best and most splendid state.
Gradually the countdown
for the commencement
of the New Year begins.
[ Foreign language ]
>> Happy Nowruz to everyone.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
>> After [inaudible]
gifts are exchanged.
Then visiting relatives,
neighbors and friends begins.
[ Music ]
The elderly members of the
family receive the visit first,
followed by the junior members.
[ Foreign language ]
>> The idea associated with
Nowruz, truly harmonious
with our custom and
tradition during the season
of Nowruz [inaudible] grievances
and quarrels, forgotten
and all the people strive to
share the joy of the holiday
with their families and
friends and elderly people
to seek their blessing.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz knows no bounds.
It crosses cities,
religions, language,
mountains, forests and rivers.
[ Music ]
>> During the Nowruz visits in
the Shinjan Region of China,
we can see other unique customs.
Here the lady of the house
pours some wheat flour
on the guests shoulder as an
expression of well wishing
and blessings for the new year.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
>> Nowruz is not
just a Holy Day.
It is a phenomenon that is based
on the solid foundation
of eternal values.
The day when a man does
not come [inaudible]
and does not violate the
- the divine harmony.
Therefore, this day
is a true Holy Day
for becoming a perfect person.
[ Music ]
>> In Iran the Nowruz
holiday's last 13 days.
[ Music ]
>> On the 13th day of the New
Year, called Sizdah Be-dar,
literally translated as
out of doors on the 13th.
People leave their houses to
join nature and picnic outside.
[ Music ]
Perhaps the belief that it
is unlucky to stay at home
on the 13th, was created to give
the housebound added incentive
to leave their homes
and appreciate the
unveiling of nature's beauty.
[ Music ]
>> On the day of Sizdah Be-dar,
folk dances are performed
in various parts of the country,
such as wood dancing in Corisan.
[ Music ]
>> In Fahd Province,
[inaudible] ladies
and youngsters enhance the
atmosphere of happiness
and delight with their
colorful and dazzling dresses.
[ Music ]
>> We believe that
Nowruz has the power
to turn our good
thoughts into good words.
And good words into good deeds.
The spirit of Nowruz, which
is celebrated these days,
should remain with us each day
of our lives, whenever we are,
irrespective of our
latitude and longitude.
[ Music ]
>> As the sun sets, the Nowruz
festivities draw to a close.
But the spirit of Nowruz and
it's beautiful memories live
on potently in the hearts
and minds of millions
of people throughout the world.
[ Music ]
>> But what is the secret
behind the continuity of Nowruz,
which is endured for millennia?
Despite various political
and historical stones.
[ Music ]
>> During the Soviet era,
Nowruz festivities were banned.
But after our independence
the people
who had always preserved
Nowruz in their hearts,
started to celebrate
Nowruz exuberantly.
[ Foreign language ]
>> Nowruz family [inaudible] us
with a culture and civilization
in which human beings learned
that they should
never become captives
of hopelessness and depression.
Thus, in this realm no ritual
can ever represent hope
as Nowruz can.
[ Music ]
[ Foreign language ]
>> Another reason why Nowruz
is timeless is that it strives
to increase joy among all
human beings, irrespective
of their color, race,
creed, and gender.
>> This is our [inaudible]
which is a combination
of our half-seen as well as
our Pesa or Passover spread.
We have mixed them together
because we are Iranians
first and then Jewish.
>> I'd like to express
my best wishes
to everyone celebrating Nowruz.
And wish them a Happy New Year.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz is a time
of joy and festivity
and on different ethnic,
linguistic, religious
and geographic groups.
This special occasion
helps bring people together
in a spirit of joy,
friendship, compassion,
co-existence and solidarity.
[ Music ]
>> In October 2009, in
an unprecedented measure,
undertaken collectively
by these countries,
Nowruz was officially
registered on the UNESCO list
of the intangible cultural
heritage of humanity.
>> Nowruz celebrations
take different forms,
depending on the region
of the world you are lucky
enough to attend them in.
Making them a perfect
demonstration of the diversity
and inventiveness
of human cultures.
An intangible heritage,
which is just as precious.
Happy Nowruz to everyone.
[ Music ]
>> Today the Festival
of Nowruz is celebrated
by many people in a vast domain.
[ Music ]
>> The members of
this huge family
of over 300 million
people resemble flowers
of a single garden.
The Nowruz garden in which each
flower disperses its own perfume
to make this garden one
of the most diverse,
yet fragrant patches
of land in the world.
[ Music ]
>> The Festival of Nowruz is a
long standing cultural tradition
that welcomes the
annual onset of spring
that symbolized the rebirth or
renewal and hope and prosperity.
Such festivals are therefore,
part of our civilizational
heritage and link us
to our ancestors across time.
[ Music ]
>> Nowruz shines a light of
hope and optimism by its message
of a new beginning of seeking
peace through tolerance
and promoting dialog and
reconciliation among people's.
>> Nowruz promotes today's
universal recognized values,
such as peace, reconciliation,
friendship,
mutual understanding, respect
for cultural diversity,
tolerance, intercultural
dialog and good [inaudible].
[ Music ]
>> It's values echo those
that we together promoted
United Nations every day
and everywhere.
Nowruz reminds us of
what we have in common.
And the richness
of all diversity.
I wish all of you a
prosperous, happy,
healthy and peaceful Nowruz.
And may spirit of friendship
, harmony and respect
for nature serve as an
inspiration to us all.
[ Music ]
>> Wonderful.
Okay. That was great.
Thank you.
What a wonderful film.
Thank you Dr. Rezaeian again,
for agreeing to join us
and giving us permission to show
your beautifully created film.
I looked at some of
the questions that were
up on the audience page.
One gentleman specifically,
I will read his name.
Mr. Devan Nagari asks "Thank
you for the documentary.
I was wondering if
you did any research
on Haft-seen AD giving's
specifically
because these rituals seem to be
invented in recent centuries."
So I really think his
question is a tradition
like AD [inaudible] giving
AD or the Nowruz events
that we have now, are
they really historic?
Or, are they more current sort
of phenomenon that have happened
in recent centuries based
on your work and research?
>> Okay. First of all, thank
you very much for inviting me
and also thank you
to all the viewers.
You know [inaudible]
Harvard University,
we went together to Perceflis.
And as you know Perceflis
was [inaudible] some 2,500
years ago.
And there are release carvings
on the walls and the stair cases
of Perceflis as you have
seen in the film also
that depict gift bearers from
many different countries,
from Ionian Greeks to
Indians, from Babylonians.
And some 23 different
governorships
of the Persian Empire.
They all bring their gifts and
present their gifts to the king.
And this according
to Professor Freud
and some other scholars is
happening on the day of Nowruz,
so we have a depiction
of gift giving going back
to 2,500 years ago.
And also in the [inaudible]
back in the 16th
and 17th century this
was also the case.
So let's say the junior
guest would give gifts
to the senior member present.
But it was transformed
in recent years,
say in the past 200 years
[inaudible] and today,
the senior member of the
family usually gives gifts
and usually bank notes you know?
>> Absolutely.
>> So yes, the gentleman
is quite right.
The giving of gifts goes
back to ancient times.
But who gives what
to whom is quite new.
It was transformed.
That makes everybody
much happier,
especially the kids who get -
>> Of course.
>> The cash.
>> Of course.
Well on the next question
it's sort of related.
Another gentleman is asking
or lady, I'm not sure,
I can't tell from
the first name.
What was the reasons
that made Nowruz seem
or appear more of a feast?
And I kind of have a hunch that
this may have something to do
with the seasonal
harvest celebrations
that go back all the
way to Mesopotamia.
But it is true.
If you look it seems to
have a feast component
in every country
it's celebrated in.
Your comments.
>> As far as I recall,
there were about some -
over 60 different
feasts and celebrations
in the Sasanian period.
>> Yes.
>> You know, all of those, only
a few remain Nowruz, [inaudible]
and perhaps one or two more.
So they're all forgotten.
But generally speaking you
know, people were quite happy
and they were having a
lot of feasts and most
of these feasts were somehow
related to the nature, you know?
Specific times.
For instance [inaudible]
equinox, you know?
That is happening right
on the specific time
and Nowruz is you know,
somehow synchronized with that.
So it was never gone,
and others.
So - and as I mentioned you
know [inaudible] tells us
that I am joy, joy is me.
So people used to have
joyous celebrations.
>> Absolutely.
And so - but last but
not least, I don't have -
don't want to take
up too much time.
One question that came
out is the famous saying,
you know we have sayings just
like here they say Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year.
One of the famous sayings
besides Nowruz Mubarak,
is Nowruz Pirouz.
If you could take a minute
and expand on the significance
on Nowruz Pirouz and what
it really connects to,
it would be great.
>> Thank you.
Yes, you know it goes back
to the legend of Jamshid.
King Jamshid was one of the
glorious legendary kings
of Iran depicted in the
famous book of kings
by our famous Poet Zardozi.
About 1,000 years ago.
And in this legendary story
Jamshid defeats the demons
of darkness and falsehood.
In the day of Nowruz.
And that's the reason people
congratulate each other
and say Nowruz Pirouz,
may Nowruz be victorious.
It's actually the defeat
of darkness and sorrow
by light and happiness.
So in the rain, at dawn, at
harvest time I told sorrow
to depart for spring has
come as the [inaudible] says.
At this moment if
I may, I'm reminded
by Maxim by Saudi of Shiraz.
When his poetry is
actually evolving
on a beautiful Persian carpet
and the carpet [inaudible]
the galleries
of the UN Headquarters
in New York.
And the saying is very
famous and it goes -
it was written 700 years
ago and it says the sons
of Adam are the limbs of one
body, created a one essence.
Then the calamity of
time effects one limb.
The other limbs cannot
remain at rest.
If you have no sympathy
for the troubles of others,
you are unwarded to be
called a human being.
That's [inaudible] reminds
us - to offer my respect
and heartfelt sympathy to
those who have suffered
from this terrible pandemic
and hope that by the dawn
of the next Nowruz, hopefully
sorrow and hardships caused
by this pandemic will be over.
Thank you -
>> Amen to that.
Amen to that.
I - I truly appreciate it.
And I also want to take a second
and thank you for allowing us
to show your wonderful film.
I've also put your information
on the screen for all
of the wonderful
people who attended.
Feel free to go to the
website sunrisefilmco.com
or email [inaudible] indirectly
at sunrisefilm@msn.com.
You can see this film
in its entirety plus the
beautiful companion book there,
as well as his other fantastic
documentaries that he's created.
By all means, feel
free to go there.
And I also wanted to
thank you again Farzin
for giving us doctors - for
giving us the opportunities
to show this live,
this is new technology,
new territory for us.
Our Persian book lectures
exactly because of Covid,
you mentioned last
year, what canceled
because we couldn't have
any in house events.
You are our first virtual online
Persian book series event.
And it's a wonderful way to
start and thank you again
for making this possible
by working with us
and allowing us to
show your film.
I am - my pleasure.
If there is anything else you
would like to say, feel free.
>> I also just finished By a
Prayer by [inaudible] the Great.
This is written [inaudible]
inscription back
in 2,500 years ago.
And he says may great God
[inaudible] protect our land
from famine, from the
enemy and from the lie.
Thank you very much.
>> Yes, it's a very
famous inscription.
Absolutely.
Thank you again Dr. Rezaeian.
I really appreciate it
and with that folks,
I just want to give a shout
out for us, our division.
Thank you again for joining us.
Also keep a look out for our
upcoming Persian book lecture
series events, as well as
programs on our Arab World,
Turkey and Turkic
Central Asia and Caucasus
for the Near East section,
especially our [inaudible]
Armenian lecture series,
which will be coming up soon.
So this is for the Near East,
but also our wonderful
Hebraic section lectures,
Ethiopic on Ethiopia
and Judaica lectures.
As well as the African sections,
wonderful programs and lectures.
For example, the conversations
with the African poets
and writer series, we will be
having more and more events
and now that you're working with
Zoom and we're working online,
we look forward to
seeing you all again.
We appreciate you being here.
Thank you for joining us
and see you next time.
>> Thank you, and Nowruz Pirouz.
>> Thank you.
Thanks everyone.
For the Office [inaudible]