NOWRUZ (Persian New Year)

Nowruz, meaning “new day,” is the Persian New Year, celebrated on March 21, marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. Declared by the United Nations as International Nowruz Day, it is celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide, including in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, among other countries. This ancient festival, over 3000 years old, promotes values of peace, solidarity, family reconciliation, and neighborliness, contributing to cultural diversity and fostering friendships among different communities. Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening ties among people, reflecting the ancient customs of Eastern and Western civilizations and their shared human values. Celebrating Nowruz means living in harmony with nature, understanding the link between our work and the renewal of nature, and showing respect for the natural sources of life.

iHelp International's Annual Nowruz Event

iHelp International, in partnership with the Afghan Association of Waterloo Region, hosts an annual event to celebrate International Nowruz Day in the Waterloo region. iHelp was the first organization to celebrate Nowruz in Canada, and at our first celebration in 2014, we attracted around 1500 people from all over Ontario and even a few from the USA. Nowadays, with Nowruz being more widely celebrated throughout North America, our event typically attracts attendees from our region.

Our Nowruz Celebration Features

Live Afghan Music: Enjoy traditional Afghan performances.
Traditional Afghan Food: Enjoy authentic Afghan dishes.
Cultural Displays and Sales: Admire and purchase beautiful Afghan clothing.
Guest Performances: Our event promotes performances from all community members and cultures. In the past, we have been honoured to feature performances from Chinese, Indian, Iranian, and many other cultural groups.
Door Prizes: Participate in exciting raffles and win prizes.
Traditional Nowruz Customs: Engage in traditional activities such as the Traditional Afghan Egg Fight with boiled eggs, Henna for women and girls, face painting, and fun activities for kids of all ages such as musical chairs, tug-of-war, cornhole and more.

This public event is open to anyone in the community who wishes to attend and experience the festivities. Everyone is welcome to join us in celebrating and learning about Nowruz and our rich cultural heritage. Our event aims to bring together people from all backgrounds and promote community and cultural appreciation.

We have recently run this event at local community centers, but due to our increasingly large number of attendees, we are currently looking for a bigger venue to properly accommodate our needs.

For more information, please contact us.