Dear Editor:
We believe in our diverse country of Canada, the celebration of heritage and multicultural festivities is a significant component of our cultural traditions.
Our effort to participate in celebration with people from all cultures assists us in building bridges of understanding among our diverse Canadian population.
The occasion of Nowruz festivities starts on March 20 and goes on for 13 days. This magnificent time provides us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the unique tradition that we Canadians have embraced, and that is the realization of the importance of the vital links from culture to culture and from generation to generation.
Nowruz means "new day" or "new year’s day." Evidence shows the celebration of Nowruz is over several thousand years old. However, this old festivity becomes younger and younger every year.
Nowruz was founded by the ancient Persian Empire, who ruled the area called greater Persia centuries ago. Nowruz is a national celebration of many ethnicities, and it is not a religious event. There are many countries that celebrate Nowruz. This holiday is celebrated in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and selected areas of Pakistan, India and China. Zoroastrians and Ismailis, and Kurds from Iraq, Turkey and Syria celebrate Nowruz, as well as residents in several former republics of the Soviet Union.
Our country, Canada, is enriched by the cultures and traditions that have been brought here from distant lands, and today we celebrate the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, and thereby contributing to a strong and harmonious Canada.
The Iranian Canadian community, with great pleasure, extends the warmest greeting to everyone celebrating Nowruz.
On this day, we wish for peace for the entire world, especially peace for the brave people and the great country of Ukraine.
Sid Mirhashemy
North Vancouver
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