The start of the Persian New Year started a flurry of celebrations in Jamats across the globe. After a temporary hiatus from in-person celebrations instilled by the pandemic, Navroz 2022 in the Southeast Region proved to be a joyous recommencing of festivities for the Jamat.
Atlanta Children’s Museum
An artfully decorated Haft-Sin table covered in a bright purple and pink fabric was an eye-catching attraction at the Children’s Museum in Atlanta. Showcasing the Qur’an, a goldfish, and flowers, among other objects, the table drew crowds and piqued curiosities. Prepared to bring the dialogue to life was a small crew of Ismaili volunteers dressed in a mix of Ismaili CIVIC t-shirts and central and south-Asian traditional garb, exemplifying the diversity of cultures that celebrate Navroz.
Ismaili CIVIC hosted this Navroz cultural exploration with the overarching themes of culture, diversity, and pluralism. Approximately four hundred participants attended a storytelling session about Navroz in Afghanistan, a skit depicting multicultural ways of celebrating Navroz, cultural dance, and garba, and an art studio where participants worked with geometric shapes represented in architecture in Muslim cultures.
Although diversity was the theme, volunteers found children eager to trace similarities between cultures. “Many of the kids were connecting their culture to ours, such as decorating eggs this time of year, too, but for Easter,” says Eliza, a volunteer with Ismaili CIVIC. “It was surreal to see how kids from different backgrounds who didn’t even know one another were keen to join hands and dance together,” adds Eliza. “It was a beautiful experience for all of us, even parents, who were eager and fully supportive of their kids to learn about diversity.”
Jamati Celebrations
On a fine Saturday evening in March, Jamati members came together to witness the beauty of the Haft-Sin table in the Religious Education Center to celebrate the grandeur of Navroz. They learned about the significance of the various items representing renewal, beauty, good health, patience, rebirth, love, and prosperity gracing the table. One interesting item was the ‘Robotic Fish,’ representing cybernetic ‘movement and life.’
A Central Asian member was so enamored by the representations of cultures that he remarked, with moist eyes, “We really appreciate that you did all this to show the strength and diversity of our cultures.”
Special programs consisting of Raas-Garba, refreshments, and games were held at Jamatkhanas in the days leading up to Navroz. These celebrations reflected the plurality and diversity of our Jamats, eager to mingle and converse freely as one Jamat, after about two years of strict social distancing protocols and social limitations. Soundtracks in Farsi, Arabic, Tajiki, and English, affirmed our global identity, encouraging the Jamat to participate in the dances.
Sanaullah Hajizada, an Ismaili Council member for the Southeast, remarked that the post-event feedback was overwhelmingly positive. “The Jamat wants this kind of celebration every year,” he said. “Navroz is a language that can bring people together – regardless of background or culture.”
Central Asian Jamat celebrations
With the sun bearing down on a Saturday afternoon, the courtyard at Headquarters Jamatkhana in Atlanta was filled with energy. A medley of over 250 Jamati members from Tajikistan, Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan, mingled. The sounds of musical instruments, such as the rubab, hung in the air, and Jamati members and leaders joined in on the fun and dance.
Ali Addis, a member of the Jamat from Central Asia, was vividly moved by the event. He said, “I appreciate the #onejamat which is on display based on Hazar Imam’s guidance.” Apart from the music, attendees enjoyed a decadent meal of kabobs and mango lassi to add to the spice of the event.
This series of events brought a festive ambiance with the goal of further uniting the Jamat. They brought back memories of the pre-Covid celebrations where unity and diversity within the Jamat were the centerpieces of our collective efforts. Hopefully, in the times ahead, we will witness more such events highlighting the celebration of cultural diversity and common humanity.
