00:00Sprouts for rebirth, apples for beauty and garlic for health. With the arrival of
00:05spring families arranged seven symbols on the half-scene table to welcome Noruz,
00:10the Persian New Year. Rooted in ancient Persian and Zoroastrian traditions, the
00:14festival dates back around 3,000 years. Today it's celebrated by more than 300
00:19million people around the world.
00:21Persians celebrated every year and it's a big part of what the community uses to
00:28come together like today here at this market.
00:31For me right now especially means the light that comes after darkness.
00:38This year in Washington DC celebrations feel subdued under the shadow of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
00:45This market in its ninth year is organized by the local community by people like Ryan.
00:51You know this is really about community and gathering and being together. I think in the
00:56tradition of Noruz it's about celebrating renewal and renewal of life and what hopes and wishes we
01:03all have for the new year and an opportunity to you know adorn ourselves in I think what is really
01:10common amongst all humanity which is like this light that we all have that we can share and
01:16be for each other. So in moments of strife and sadness I can only say for myself I've been more
01:23sad these
01:24last 14 days than I have in the last 14 years but being around other people and even if we
01:30don't agree
01:31on everything is the best way to be human. For many families here thoughts of loved ones back home
01:38are never far away. Messages get through but not often. Our family back home my grandmother my aunts
01:46and uncles we have we rarely touch base with um so it's just it's still life goes on but it's
01:53a very
01:53dark cloud hanging over our heads. So we have very limited communication with them but I get a phone
01:58call the week um and they're in their homes um putting themselves on how the ones that they can
02:06are putting themselves themselves on like house arrest basically and I'm sure they're going to have
02:11as like a little family celebration at some point. Though celebrations feel different people are
02:16still keeping their traditions alive. I get my flowers like tulips and hyacinth sonbol and I set up you
02:25know I clean my home we got to do the junete kuni and clean the home and spring cleaning and
02:30then after
02:31that I spend a lot of time cooking and being with family and friends. Visitors were invited to right
02:36their hopes for the new year. I think that's what we all need now is like more peace more loving
02:43more
02:45like you know integration more of like you know caring I think that's what we want more humanity
02:53I I think that's the most important thing. I just hope for some relief for the people of Iran. Freedom
03:01for people of Iran and peace.
03:06you
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