NOROOZ TAKES OVER MANHATTAN by SARA SEFEED

NEW YORK, February 28th, 2006 – As the snow melts on the sidewalks of Manhattan, the city is slowly getting ready for another major celebration. Persians from across the world are coming together to throw the biggest party New York has ever seen to mark the coming of spring.

“Norooz”, which literally means “New Day” in Persian, is a holiday that is celebrated around the world by Persians, Kurds, Turks, Afghans, Tajiks, Parsis, and many other ethnic communities. The festivities typically last 13 days after the exact moment of spring equinox, expected to occur at 1:25:35 PM on Monday, March 20 th , 2006.

While the official start of Norooz isn't until late March, some Persians use this opportunity to start celebrating early. Preparations for spring cleaning, and the setting of the Sofreh Haft Seen all start as early as the first week of March.

This year, New York will experience the biggest public celebration, the most notable of which is planned for March 19 th , 2006. On this day, the Persian Day Parade will start at 11 am on 46 th and Madison, transforming 20 city blocks into a display for Persian color, costumes, sounds and attractions. Following the parade, a brand new event called the Persian Arts Festival is scheduled to take place at Makor on 67 th between Columbus and Central Park West.

The founders of the Persian Arts Festival, Mona Kayhan and Angela Huffstutler, are two local New Yorkers, who are passionate about Persian Art and culture and saw this as a good opportunity to showcase the rich history and tradition that comes from Iran in the most multicultural city in the world.

Starting at 2 pm, the Persian Arts Festival is a day of festivities and laughter. The schedule is packed through the evening with wonderful programs, such as Stand-up comedy by Iranian-American Negin Farsad, musical performances by Amir Vahab, and Iranian Rock Band 127. There will be major works of art on display and the Makor Café will feature a Persian-influenced menu for the occasion. “It's the perfect event following the Persian Day Parade. Normally all these people would gather from all over the world to celebrate this great day and have no where to go after the parade. This year, they can just come a few blocks north, and continue enjoying the riches of Persian culture,” says Angela Huffstutler, Executive Director of the Persian Arts Festival.

The day also includes Persian literature with poetry readings by Richard Jeffrey Newman and book readings by Author Afschineh Latifi, also a local New Yorker who has penned the book “Even After All This Time”. Mona Kayhan, Executive Producer of the Persian Arts Festival, comments, “Our space at Makor features four floors of Art and Entertainment. We are so excited because people will truly get to celebrate and learn about this wonderful culture in a warm and inviting setting.”

There are many other enticing events planned for the day, including the screening of some short films and the popular children's cartoon “Babak & Friends – A First Norooz”. Families will have a Children's Play Center filled with educational games, and fun activities for the parents and children alike.

Norooz not only marks the rejuvenation of the earth but it also allows people to gather and share in their unique traditions. New York is the perfect city for the occasion.

About the Persian Arts Festival

The Persian Arts Festival intends to showcase the magnificence and diversity of Persian art and culture as well as the widely celebrated, Norooz, the Persian New Year. Norooz is observed in more than ten countries in Asia and now in Canada and the United States. Our goal is to provide an opportunity to share the myriad of Persian artists and the mediums of their expression with the community at large. Commencing in New York, we will be showcasing the music, fine art, visual art, fashion, traditions and undoubtedly a delectable selection of Persian cuisine. Fore more, please visit www.persianartsfestival.org.