Jashn-i Nowruz: Celebrating the Persian New Year Festival on 16th March 2022 at 6.30 PM (Academic Block, NIB)
Please join the Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature in celebrating the Jashn-i Nowruz or the Persian New Year Festival on March 16, 2022. This festival and its accompanying exhibitions are organized in collaboration with the Iranian Cultural Institute, Lahore. Intrinsically connected with the advent of spring and literally meaning ‘the new day,’ this festival celebrates the rejuvenation of earth after the dark and dreary winter season. Verdure and flowers, therefore, are centerstage in festivities spread over several days. These allusions to life and fertility are also an integral part of an emblem essential for this occasion—the Sofra-ye Haft Sīn, a dining cloth laid out to offer seven items (or more), each starting with س or ‘S,’ carrying a symbolic significance. While the origins of Nowruz may go back to the mythical king Jamshed, historical accounts feature countless communities and dynasties flourishing in Iran and its neighboring regions celebrating it with great pomp and show since times immemorial. Having ascended religious affiliations and geographic boundaries, today this new year/spring festival continues to be observed by many people across the globe, and the GCLL is delighted to bring this beautiful festival to the LUMS community.
The program includes an exhibition of posters (on loan from the Iranian Cultural Institute, Lahore) featuring Persian inscriptions on historical buildings in several countries including Pakistan. This institute, popularly known as the Khāna-e Farhang, will also have exquisite Iranian handicrafts and a fabulous collection of Persian books on display along with the Sofra-ye Haft Sīn. The Director General of the Iranian Cultural Institute, Mr Jafar Ronas, will grace the occasion as the chief guest. The ceremony will conclude with a unique musical performance by a rising musician and vocalist Shah Abdullah Alamee who is an established miniature and calligraphy artist. GCLL’s Nowruz festival will be the first solo performance of his group singing Persian classical and modern poetry with music played on traditional musical instruments.