With the arrival of the spring equinox, UCLA was in a festive mood for the new season. On Mar. 9, 2025, UCLA welcomed the Farhang Foundation as they hosted their 15th annual Nowruz celebration. Throughout Dickson Court, thousands of attendees were met with various music, food, dances and crafts beautifully showcasing Iranian culture.
Nowruz translates to “new day” in Persian. This holiday is an ancient celebration of life and rebirth that can be traced back over 3,000 years. Coinciding with the arrival of spring, Nowruz is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, which is usually Mar. 20 or 21. Despite originally being a Persian celebration, it is now celebrated all over the world as a promotion of peace, prosperity and solidarity within communities.
Nowruz at UCLA is primarily organized by the Farhang Foundation. Their mission is to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture for the benefit of the community at large. Established in 2008, their aim is to continually show off Iranian art and culture to demonstrate the rich history of the country. Southern California has the largest Iranian American community, and the Farhang Foundation aims to show people a firsthand positive experience of Iranian traditions and values.
Alireza Ardekani, the CEO of the Farhang Foundation, said that the organization strives to offer a perspective of Iran that is “a little different than what people typically see on the news.”
A consistently popular part of Nowruz at UCLA is the musical performances, and this year was no exception. Attendees experienced the music and rhythms of Iran through LA Daf. They are an ensemble of 30 women who play the daf, a drum that is primarily used in popular and classical Iranian music. The daf is one of the oldest known instruments, and its existence even predates the rise of Islam.
The music throughout the event ended on a high note with a performance by Kamyar, one of the top pop icons in Iranian music. He is a multilingual vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with music that blurs the lines between pop, R&B and traditional Persian music. He has also collaborated with other notable musicians such as singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder and Googoosh, a popular Iranian musician and actress.
Along with the music, there were opportunities to try unique snacks and drinks at the Iranian tea house. Attendees got to try tea, Iranian-style sandwiches, ice cream and Shirini, a sweet treat similar to cookies.
At the focal point of Nowruz is the grand Haft-Sin (which is Persian for “Seven S’s”), the most popular display at the celebration. It is an arrangement of seven symbolic elements whose names start with the letter “S” in the Persian alphabet, and each item corresponds to a divine creation. Some items include wheat and barley (sabzeh, symbolizing rebirth), red apples (sîb, symbolizing beauty and health) and vinegar (serkeh, symbolizing age and patience).
“[The Haft-Sin] is a display that everybody sets up in their home, and they have it up on the first day of spring,” Ardekani said.
The celebration also had a plethora of family-friendly activities to explore. There was a puppet show with performances based on folklore stories from Iran. This consistently popular showcase offered a cultural and entertaining experience for younger attendees, introducing them to Iranian storytelling traditions.
Other activities included arts and crafts — from making personal mini Haft-Sîns and reading cards to face painting and calligraphy demos. No matter the age, UCLA and Farhang Foundation’s Nowruz celebration had something for everyone.
Following the conclusion of the celebration at Dickson Court, there was a Nowruz concert in Royce Hall. In collaboration with the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s Iranian Music Program — the only Iranian music studies program outside of Iran — the program featured the Iranshahr Orchestra. The 30-piece group is led by Dr. Shahab Paranj, a faculty member at UCLA’s music school. Special guests included vocalists Mahdieh Mohammadkhani, an opera singer from Sweden, and Cameron Shahbazi, a vocalist from Dubai.
“The last two years, we’ve been collaborating with them on this concert,” Ardekani said, demonstrating the continued efforts of the Farhang Foundation to spread awareness about Iranian culture.
By immersing themselves in the festivities, non-Iranians can directly engage with and appreciate several aspects of Iranian heritage.
“You don’t have to be Iranian to participate in [Nowruz],” Ardekani said. “We really need to celebrate nature and rebirth, and everything that comes with Nowruz.”
Ardekani and the Farhang Foundation shared the hope that non-Iranians will leave the Nowruz celebration with a deeper appreciation for the richness and beauty of Iranian culture — which is often overlooked by mainstream media.
For anyone who missed the chance to celebrate Nowruz on campus, the Farhang Foundation still has many events throughout the year. On Mar. 29, they collaborated with Pacific Symphony Orchestra with a performance titled Nowruz: The Concert – Return of the Masters at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The Farhang Foundation will also collaborate with UCLA again from June 14-29 to celebrate Iranian cinema at the Hammer Musuem’s Billy Wilder Theater.
Visual Credit: Andrew Shingo Green, Staff Writer
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