For many B.C. communities, Nowruz — or Navroz — is a time for reflection and renewal
CBC
The Persian New Year marks the arrival of spring, and with it comes a sense of new beginnings.
Called Nowruz in the Persian language Farsi, Navroz in the Ismaili Muslim tradition, and Naw-Rúz in the Baha'i faith, the festival is celebrated at the time of vernal equinox — falling on March 20 or 21 — when the sun crosses the celestial equator, and night and day are equal in length.
After two years of not being able to celebrate together during the pandemic, people gathered Tuesday at West Vancouver's Ambleside Park for Charshanbe Suri, a celebration that precedes Nowruz, and features food, music and fire jumping.
For the Persian community, fire jumping holds a special significance, says Sara Shishman in West Vancouver.
"When you jump over the fire, it takes away all your sadness," she said. "It purifies you."
For the Baha'i community, Naw-Rúz is a time to break bread together and volunteer in the community.
The act of giving is a focal point, as is fasting for 19 days from sunrise to sunset, leading up to the special occasion.
Michelle Murphy, an external affairs representative for Baha'i's of Vancouver, says there will be multiple Naw-Rúz celebrations in the Metro Vancouver area, including one at Vancouver's McBride Park on Sunday. Celebrations will be as diverse, she says, as the community itself.
"It's wonderful to have this mixing of all of these different ways of celebrating," she said.
For Ismailis, depending on the region they're from, Navroz is about food, prayers, dances and clothing, says Aly Sunderji from Burnaby.
"It's when we would make our resolutions as well to better ourselves and recommit to spiritual search," the 33-year-old said.
To Sunderji, Sunday's Navroz festivities mark a time of transition, and he hopes this year brings a move away from two years of reduced community contact due to the pandemic.
"We're so grateful that this day is coming when we can actually be physically together," he said. "I'm sure it'll be a very emotional day for all of us."
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Toronto police's marine unit will create a bubble zone around Hanlan's Beach as a pilot project this summer to improve safety for swimmers, kayakers and paddleboarders.
An N.W.T judge has sentenced a man from Fort Good Hope to seven years in prison for killing another man from the community last year.
Alberta's government says residents who are not immunocompromised or on social programs will soon have to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
A man shot by a police officer in a condo in Markham earlier this week has died, the Special Investigations Unit says.
Prince Edward Island's coroner's office is investigating a recent death at Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park in Charlottetown.
The RCMP is responding to a fatal collision south of Whitehorse that left one dead and another injured.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada is calling for de-escalation after Israel targeted Iran's nuclear sites and killed Iranian military leaders with a barrage of airstrikes early Friday.
Police in Prince Edward Island are asking for the public's help identifying two men involved in separate incidents of indecent acts that were reported in Queens County.
A London couple say they've been hit with a steep and unexpected monthly expense, after the federal government stopped an elder family member's old age security payments without explanation — payments which went toward expensive nursing home costs.
"Please, allow me to show you my bus that I drive for G7," says the driver.
Newfoundland and Labrador is about four months out from what will likely become election season in the province — and a St. John's non-profit group thinks there will likely be some big changes at the local level.
Sault College president says its getting harder to maintain 'core programs' with financial pressures
Another post-secondary institution in northeastern Ontario is struggling to operate as it is squeezed by dropping international enrolment and a longstanding tuition freeze.
Councillors in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality have called for a full review of volunteer and career fire services over concerns about the number of departments and the cost of staffing and equipping them.