Naw Ruz Baha’i New Year March 21

All over the world Baha’is are celebrating Naw Ruz, the new year. The New Year is commemorated at the onset of the spring, during the equinox, when our star The Sun centers on the Earth’s equator.

Historically Naw Ruz has been celebrated as the Persian New Year for centuries. The term Nowruz in writing first appeared in Persian records in the 2nd century AD. It has been celebrated since the time of Zoroaster, but it is also an important festival for the Persians. In Iran it is a national festival, but the Iranian New Year is not exclusive to one religious group.

Naw Ruz is one of the most important festivals for Bahá’ís. Bahá’u’lláh confirmed the Babí calendar designating Naw Ruz in the Most Holy book, The Kitáb-I-Aqdas, as a feast.  The Báb introduced a new calendar, known now as the Babí or Bahá’í calendar (see notes 27 and 147 of The Kitáb-I-Aqdas). According to this calendar, a day is the period from sunset to sunset. In the Bayán, the Báb ordained the month of ‘Alá to be the month of fasting, decreed that the day of Naw-Rúz should mark the termination of that period, and designated Naw-Rúz as the Day of God.

“ Naw-Rúz is the first day of the new year. It coincides with the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, which usually occurs on 21 March. Bahá’u’lláh explains that this feast day is to be celebrated on whatever day the sun passes into the constellation of Aries (i.e. the vernal equinox), even should this occur one minute before sunset (Q and A 35, The Kitáb-I-Aqdas). Hence Naw-Rúz could fall on 20, 21, or 22 March, depending on the time of the equinox.” (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 177, note 26)

 Bahá’ís celebrate Naw Ruz after a long period of Fasting.  Bahá’u’lláh says, “Thou hast ordained Naw-Rúz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee.”

In Orlando, the Bahá’í community commemorated Naw Ruz on March 20th. The event was attended by around 150 people from Central Florida. Friends gathered from Brevard, Volusia, Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Polk counties.  The program included devotionals, a presentation on Naw Ruz, artistic presentations by Andy Murphy and Robert Speirs, as well as the Central Florida Bahá’í Choir.

Later, youth of all ages enjoyed a dance until late hours.

 SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT