Nowruz celebrations in B.C. 'solemn' amid political unrest in Iran

The Persian celebration of the New Year is in full swing in B.C.

Known as Nowruz in Farsi, Navroz in the Ismaili Muslim traditionand Naw-Rz in the Baha'i faith, it's a two-week-long holiday filled with food, communityand the sharing of gifts to mark the end of the old and the beginning of the new.

But amid turmoil and ongoing unrest in Iran, this year's celebrations look a little different for some community members.

Joyous celebrations are tempered by the reality thatin Iran, many women are fighting for their freedom after the arrest and death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini sparked months of anti-regime protests over human rights and security.

When guests walk through the doors of Delara, a Persian restaurant in Vancouver, they are greeted by a Haftsin, an arrangement of symbolic items often displayed at Nowruz.

On the menu, there's a new cocktail named the Mahsa Amini.

Owner Bardia Illbeiggi says his restaurant serves as a gateway for customers to learn about and discuss the political unrest in Iran.

"People come in and they ask about the events and so opening up that dialogue, it helps us to talk about it but also increases the awareness globally," he said.

And while Nowruz is a time of celebration, he says those global issues are palpable.

"There is a solemn mood that exists in all Iranians. We are all thinking about the past events that started in September, so there is that layer of sadness," said Illbeiggi.

Still, he said he is filled with hope that the new year will bring a better future both for his immediate community and the people of Iran. His restaurant is selling boxes of Persian cookies for Nowruz and donating the proceeds to IFA Crowd Fund, a non-profit organization that supports under-served communities in Iran.

'My heart is very heavy'

Event planner Termeh Ataollahi started hosting an annualpublic market for Nowruz last year at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. The market was acelebration, featuring dancers and music.

But this year, the event carried a different mood.

"The difference is we are not that happy. ... My heart is very heavy," saidAtaollahi.

Instead of featuring performers, organizers played music from the protest movement and asked vendors and visitors to stand and sing along.

"The atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was crying,"Ataollahi said.

Watch | Why Nowruz is being celebrated a bit differently this year

Protests in Iran and regime's crackdown cast shadow on this year's Nowruz

1 year ago

Duration 2:54

Monday marks the Persian New Year called Nowruz, the first since anti-regime protests swept across Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September. CBC's Yasmin Gandham takes a look at how this year's celebrations will strike a different tone among Iranian Canadians.

Photos ofIranian women who have died or gone missing were also displayed

Ataollahi said more than 10,000 people came to the public market this year, which was held over three days from March10 to 12.

"Nowruz means new day and we want to start the new day, but we do not want to forget friends, familyand the people in Iran who died because of this revolution," saidAtaollahi.

Pushing against the regime

On Saturday, more than 100 people gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in support of those protesting in Iran.

It was the 27th time the rally was held in Vancouver since the death of Amini.

Demonstrators danced around the square, waving the Iranian flag and singing in both celebration and defiance.

"Today, it's going to be more festivity and that's what the Islamic regime doesn't like. They don't like people being happy, so we are going to dance and fight this regime as much as we can," said Abbas Mandegar, an organizer of the rally.

Despite the pain, he says the Iranian community in Vancouver will continue to celebrate Nowruz because life goes on, as does the fight.

"People are struggling for their freedom and they are not going to give up. Nothing will stop us from going forward for freedom and equality in Iran," he said.

Rally-goer Mosatafa Saber said the protests in Iran are a perfect representation of Nowruz, which is Farsi for a new day.

"It truly feels like Nowruz, a new day, not just for us, for people in Iran, but for the whole world. The message of this revolution doesn't stop at the border. It belongs to the whole of humanity."