Baha'is around the world celebrated their new year, marked by the spring equinox in the northern
hemisphere, on March 20th. "Naw-Ruz," has been celebrated in Iran from time
immemorial, and was confirmed by Bahá'u'lláh as a holy day. It coincides with the first day of the first month of the year in the Bahai calendar.
In Ottawa our celebrations are more subdued yet these observances take different multi-cultural forms in the 120,000 localities where Baha'is reside around the world.
They typically, however, include devotions, celebrations, and feasting. The festival comes at the end of a 19-day fast, in which Bahá'ís over 15 abstain from food and drink between
sunrise and sunset to become detached from all save God.
This year we had well over 400 people show up to celebrate and there were over 1,500 pictures taken! Here are 150 of the most
memorable.
From YOW to MIA to YOW. When will she go back to MIA?
Phil is sooo cool (and expressive) that I could not bear it in my
heart to cut any of the above pictures.
I made a comment to Vaf before I took this picture that, as we say
in Poker, put him on 'tilt'
All better now - although his tippy toes hurt after this picture. (cause unknown)
Abbreviated as ADD.
Everyone had such a good time that the smiles almost look painted on. But with such a diverse cross-section of humanity coming together in loving fellowship
the spirit was justifiably intoxicating.
Everyone should know Mona by now...
and her sister Shayda.
(just like everyone should recognize the Marty point by now :)
Take it easy (applies to everyone depicted)
I begged him to stoop down but he was slow to oblige so I was
perched on my extended meta-tarsals.
Our future. Rock on Kiri and Melody.
They say that some female frogs can switch genders if their is a
shortage of males in the population. (This is in reference to social introversion and intense activity planning--not switching genders. )
♫...and the children...
♫
nice way to end. big thumbs up to all of you out there and happy new year!
