Norouz Celebration

“Spring is arriving, go seek the beloved. Spring is arriving; go nurture your soul with the fragrance of Love.”
--Hazrat Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, Pir Oveyssi--

Norouz is the traditional Persian festival of spring, which starts at the exact moment of the Vernal Equinox, commencing the start of spring and the beginning of the Persian New Year. Norouz is celebrated on or near the 21st of March. It has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years. It is a celebration of the renewal of life after the slumber of winter, and along with it, the human response to that awakening.

Each year, the MTO Sufi Association® celebrates Norouz and the arrival of spring. A major tradition of Norouz is the setting of the Haft Seen (seven S's) table which includes seven items starting with the letter S or "seen” in Farsi. The items symbolize a new beginning, rebirth, and prosperity in both the physical and spiritual realms.

The number seven corresponds to the seven days of creation, and in particular in Sufi teachings, it refers to the seven stages of the journey of Self-knowledge, as has been taught by Sufis for centuries.

Sufi Masters have always honored Norouz with great passion. For centuries, the great Sufis have actively professed the delicate spiritual meanings behind Norouz, such as rebirth and awakening of the soul. The great Sufi Master of our era, Hazrat Salaheddin Ali Nader Angha, eloquently describes the celebration of Norouz in the following poem:

“Celebrating Eid/Norouz with flowers, sweets, and spiritual wine

We trust the remainder of our life into His hand.

Roses will not last long, pick your share.

Life is short; beware.

Spring is here, the meadows and gardens are revived and alive,

It is time to reflect and ask the meadow, Where is my flower?

Where is my share of the everlasting blossom of Life?

Spring is arriving, go seek the beloved.

Spring is arriving; go nurture your soul with the fragrance of Love.”