Discovering the Shared Roots of Persian and Indian Cultures at the Nowruz Celebrations

I was very excited to experience Iranian culture for the first time at a Nowruz (Iranian) New Year’s celebration. Since there is a large Iranian population in Southern California, there were two Nowruz festivals: one at UCLA and the other at UCI.

The Farhang Foundation, a secular, apolitical, nonprofit foundation that’s dedicated to celebrating Iranian art and culture, hosted both festivals. I admire how the Farhang Foundation’s mission is to promote Iranian culture without a political or religious agenda.

The first festival I attended was at UCLA. Although we got there rather late, there was still a lot to see and enjoy. It was a large outdoor event. They had a DJ, traditional Persian exhibitions, performances, activities for children, and food trucks.

There was also a Haft-sîn display, which is a collection of seven traditional symbols that start with the 15th character in the Persian alphabet. This was my first time seeing such a display. 

There was a brilliant performance by the Le Daf Ensemble, a group of eight women dressed in traditional Persian attire, each playing a daf (a large Middle Eastern frame drum). Seeing women with their instruments was a real treat for me because I usually only see men playing frame drums.

The ensemble played fantastic music and was very eye-catching. It’s a shame I only got to see the end of the performance. Although we didn’t get the chance to see the whole performance, there was a sold-out concert with Mojgan Shajarian—daughter of the legendary Mohammad-Reza Shajarian—headlining at Royce Hall.

There were many great exhibitions, including art displays (traditional Persian drawings and paintings), an exhibit of traditional Nowruz decorations, and Barbie dolls dressed in beautiful, traditional Persian clothing. I enjoyed the mix of Eastern and Western culture in the Barbie display.

As for the food, my favorite food truck there served delicious fusions of Asian, Mexican, and American food. They had sushi with a Mexican twist and wraps that were a combination of Mexican and Asian cuisines. And lucky for me, there were plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. 

Since we only caught the end of the Nowruz festival at UCLA, we decided to go to one at UCI to a couple of weeks later.

I was happy to learn that UCI is home to the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies & Culture. The festival at UCI was smaller than the one at UCLA, but since we got there early, there was a lot more for us to see this time.  

At the festival entrance, there was a miniature paper-mache representation of the Freedom Sculpture. Located in Century City, the sculpture is stainless-steel and painted gold and silver. It was inspired by the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient document with cuneiform inscribing that details Cyrus the Great’s deeds and honors. The Farhang Foundation commissioned Cecil Balmond, the architect whose work includes the ArcelorMittal Orbit and the Star of Caledonia, to create his rendition of the Cyrus Cylinder.

I love that the sculpture represents religious freedom, cultural diversity, and inclusiveness. These ideals are close to my heart and they motivate me as a musician.   

Later, I saw a lively performance by the Sibarg Ensemble. After the show, I talked to Mahtab, a member of the ensemble. She plays the santoor, which is a hammered dulcimer. Mahtab told me that she started out playing the xylophone, but at around fifteen or so, she switched to the santoor. I asked her why she switched, and she told me that not only were there already many others learning the xylophone, but she wanted to learn more about her Persian heritage, so she felt that she should learn a traditional Persian instrument instead. 

Mahtab, who lives in Texas, plays traditional and modern music. And like me, she loves to blend the two. She hopes to collaborate with musicians who play Western instruments. So far, she’s performed with a violinist and flutist, which has brought her great success.

As a singer-songwriter who is passionate about creating a hybrid of traditional and modern music styles, I was touched to hear that Mahtab is also passionate about this. I told her how much I appreciated her music and how happy I am that she’s bringing her incredible culture and music to modern audiences.

There was also a lovely Persian tea ceremony with a beautiful spread of tasty desserts. Two things I love are dessert and traditional foods, so this ceremony was perfect for me (and best of all, it was free). The two women hosting the ceremony were dressed in traditional Iranian clothing. I had an interesting chat with one of the ladies, who was happy to explain how each of the desserts were made.

One of the desserts I sampled was jalebi (also known as zulbia). It’s a popular dessert in much of Asia, especially in Iran and India. Jalebi is made by deep-frying maida (plain flour) in a pretzel or circular shape, and are then coated in sugar syrup. I found the Iranian version to be lighter and flakier than the Indian version, which I’m more familiar with. I also had the tea, of course, and it was so delicious that I had a second cup.

Walking around the festival was a group of women in beautiful traditional attire. I was instantly captivated by their elaborate, colorful dresses and stopped to talk to one of the women. Her name is Robyn Friend, and she is the director of the Institute of Persian Performing Arts and has a Ph.D. in Iranian Languages and Cultures from UCLA. Robyn told me that she made the traditional attire she was wearing with modern fabric but created the traditional patterns using ancient techniques. Robyn was as friendly as her name implies.

I asked Robyn about the significance of the gold coins on their headdresses and vests. She told me that the coins represent luck and prosperity and that women wore them to show their wealth and social capital. Even though the headdresses and vests can get quite heavy, wearing more coins means an elevated social status.  

I mentioned to Robyn that I had just tried a Persian dessert that was very similar to a dessert from India. She shared with me how both Persian and Indian cultures have many things in common, including foods that use similar spices and musical traditions. Also, both societies greatly value personal accomplishment, higher education, and financial success.

Attending not one, but two Nowruz festivals this year was a lot of fun and a great way to learn more about Iran and its people. I am grateful for the Farhang Foundation’s efforts to share Iran’s rich and ancient heritage so that Americans can experience a bit of Persian culture.

It’s my hope that other cultural organizations will follow the Farhang Foundation’s example so that we get the opportunity to learn about their traditions and heritage, too.

#3rdCulture #EastMeetsWest