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TRANSCRIPT
Catering for New Year celebrations known as Nowruz keeps staff busy at a small Persian restaurant in Sydney’s north. On the menu, fresh fish layered with rice and aromatic herbs. Co-owner Parya Zaghand explains.
“For Nowruz we celebrate with a popular fish dish -fresh herbs mixed in with the saffron rice and beautiful fish, from the Caspian Sea. Obviously, here we get barramundi.”
At Tida Persian restaurant, the dining room is decorated with colourful motifs. Here, Nowruz is celebrated with shared meals and gift giving, says customer Laleh Mirian
“For us Iranians, it basically means new life, new year, new everything.”
Nowruz is an ancient custom that pre-dates Islam in Iran. Ms Zaghand, who grew up in Iran’s capital, Tehran and migrated to Australia in 2008, says in the northern hemisphere it marks the transition from winter to spring!
“Nowruz - we have always celebrated it within the community, within the family, with our people. And the whole thing means staying together and being with the family and keeping the tradition, the flame of that tradition alive.”
However, as war rages across the Middle East, Ms Zaghand is among many fearing for loved ones there. Her family lives just outside Tehran.
“I haven't spoken to Mom and Dad for days. Bombing is happening every single morning. We wake up to the news knowing they have just hit right around the corner from where our parents live, from where our sisters live. There is so much uncertainty that's happening at the moment.”
The current conflict follows the mass killing and arrest of civilian protesters in Iran, impacting many in Australia’s 85-thousand strong Iranian diaspora. Academic Rana Dadpour explains.
“Nowruz has a very important, symbolic role right now in Australia for our Iranian Australian community um, because it means basically gathering to each other. Our community has been going through a very traumatic experience because of everything that is happening in Iran, the massacre that happened, thousands of people have been killed. There's war right now happening, ah people are disconnected from their families. So, this celebration really helps them to get together and show their unity.”
Parya Zaghand opened a Persian restaurant with partner Milad Amiri three years ago. She says a connection to culture brings comfort in these uncertain times.
“Emotions come and go like the wind, you know, and the storm. Friendships are falling apart in the community. You know, things are happening, people ... we're going through grief. We're going through anger through rage.”
In Iran, Nowruz rituals like jumping fire are discouraged by the Islamic Republic. However, many traditions stretching back thousands of years are still observed, such as decorating the haft-seen table with symbolic items. Ms Zaghand explains.
“We put seven things that start with letter ‘S’ in Farsi. Sumac for example, which brings that zest of life. Wheatgrass here which we call sabzi.”
Across the world, more than 300 million people are expected to celebrate Nowruz this year, from a diverse range of ethnic, linguistic, and religious origins. Rana Dadpour says celebrating together helps ease anxiety in the current conflict.
“So, cultural and historical celebration really helps people to overcome the fear and the loss that they have experienced. To show kindness to each other, to realize that they are not alone.”
Ms Zaghand is among many hoping that spring brings positive change to a troubled region.
“There is so much grief that is happening at the moment, so much loss, blood that has been shed. But we are going to be honouring people who have lost their lives. Spring doesn't wait, winter leaves and Nowruz always comes, um for us to celebrate life again.”
