SAT-7 PARS shares a message of new life and brings people together during the Persian New Year celebrations
Norouz is the Persian New Year celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Norouz, which began on the first day of spring this year, draws families together to celebrate new beginnings and hopes for the future.
Families traditionally decorate a table or carpet in the home with seven dishes. The dishes make for a beautiful display and represent rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty.
The thirteenth and final day of Norouz represents a time of carefree fun. People put aside order and their regular routines to have parties. On this day, called sizdeh bedar in the Farsi language, families gather on a walk carrying trays of sprouted grass seeds and find a cool, grassy spot for a picnic. It is a fun time for families to come together, share food, and dance.
SAT-7 PARS celebrates Norouz in several live shows, showing how the channel values and upholds generations-old traditions. During special live episodes on SAT-7 PARS, hosts prayed for the viewers in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. They prayed for resolve to tackle the social and economic problems in these countries, and that the New Year might bring blessings to all. The holiday also provided an opportunity to stress the importance of togetherness and unity.
In an episode of Together with You (in Farsi, ‘Hamra ba Shoma’), the hosts discussed family traditions (pictured above). Sully shared that her mother used to set a small piece of grass on the table to represent re-birth and place a cube of sugar in it to symbolise a sweet year ahead.
Afghan perspective
A special episode of Dandelion (in Farsi, ‘Ghasadek’) hosted guest Brother Shoaib, who talked about Norouz traditions in Afghanistan (pictured right). Instead of celebrating the 7 dishes, Afghans celebrate 7 fruits, symbolising health.
Not all Farsi-speaking Christians celebrate Norouz, but Brother Shoaib explained why SAT-7 PARS upholds the tradition. As the Persian New Year represents new beginnings, it is a good time to remember that we are renewed and have hope in Christ. He pointed to Isaiah 43:18-19, which encourages believers not to dwell on the past, but to look ahead for new works of God.
Pray that in the year ahead, SAT-7 PARS will lead more people in Farsi-speaking nations to look to Christ for new beginnings and a hopeful future.
*2011 Intermedia Research