Spring and spirituality from viewpoint of Imam Khomeini

Spring and spirituality from viewpoint of Imam Khomeini

The founder of the Islamic Republic in his works, messages and speeches a deep relations between the spring of season and spiritual transformation of mankind.

According to the Imam Khomeini, the holy Quran brings spring as an evidence to day of resurrection.

Just line the plants get new life during this season, in the same way the people can also spiritual revolutionize and transform themselves.

For an instance, the people can pledge to give up all types of sins, and vow to pave the way of spirituality, and adopt divine and moral values.

If mankind make themselves closely associated to spirituality and rely the God Almighty, then the society will become a role-model of morality.

Imam Khomeini recommended the believers and faithfuls to recite Quran and supplications narrated by the holy prophet of Islam and infallibe Imams (peace be upon them)

That is why, the Iranians and several other nations attach great significance to the beginning of the spring.

Millions of people in Iran and across different parts of the world are celebrating the Persian New Year or Nowruz.

The Nowruz festivities always begin on the first day of spring, which has fallen on March 20 this year.

Nowruz, which means New Day, is the first day of the Persian calendar month of Farvardin. The day usually falls on March 20 but in leap years, it coincides with March 21. 

In harmony with the rebirth of nature, on the first day of the Persian New Year, family members usually gather around the Nowruz (Haft-Seen) table, and await the exact moment of the arrival of the spring.The celebrations include specific customs and rituals.

Preparations for Nowruz begin weeks ahead of the year-end, when peoplebuy new clothes and clean their homes and.

Shopping malls and markets are filled with people who come out to buy Nowruz decorations.

The Haft-Seen table contains seven items whose names begin with a letter in the Persian alphabet which is equivalent to “S” in English. It usually includes Seeb (apple), Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinegar), Samanoo (a delicacy made from sprouted wheat), Senjed (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), Sekke (coins), and Seer (garlic). 

Iranians all over the world each year in the begining of the spring gear up to celebrate the joyful spirit marked by the start of Persian New Year, called Nowruz. 

In Iran and many other countries people welcome spring with the ancient Nowruz celebrations such as visiting their relatives and friends, going on trips and spending time in nature.

Along with Iranians, millions of others in several countries also celebrate Nowruz, which marks the advent of spring.

The Nowruz festive occasion is one of the most ancient and most cherished festivities which has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years. 

The United Nations in 2010 recognized March 21st as the International Day of Nowruz, or the Persian New Year. The UN Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized the occasion as “intangible cultural heritage of Persian origin.”

In Iran, people prepare to welcome the New Year days before by doing spring cleaning, decorating their homes and buying new clothes. For Iranians, Nowruz is a celebration of renewal and change.

The eve of the last Wednesday of the year is celebrated by Iranian worldwide as ChaharshanbehSuri or the Red Wednesday.

On this day, people make bonfires in public and jump over the flames and light fireworks saying 'my yellowness is yours, your redness is mine,' telling the fire to take their pain, sickness and give them its strength, warmth and health. Mixed nuts and berries are also served during the celebration.

After celebrating the national festival of fire, Iranians mark Nowruz by setting the Haft Seen, a table with seven items starting with the Persian /s/ sound. 

The items usually include Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanu (a sweet pudding made from germinated wheat), Senjed (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Somagh (sumac) and Serkeh (vinegar).

People also put the holy Qur'an next to the main Haft Seen items in hopes of being blessed by God in the year ahead.

The mirror (symbolizing cleanliness and honesty), a bowl of water with goldfish, decorated eggs (symbolizing fertility) sometimes one for each member of the family, candles (enlightenment and sunrise), coins (representing wealth), dried nuts and fruits and Sonbol (hyacinth) are also among the items Iranians include in their Haft Seen.

The whole table is a thanksgiving table for all the good bestowed by God, and symbolizes light, warmth, life, love, joy, production, prosperity and nature.

Zoroastrians celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Zoroaster on the sixth day of Nowruz holidays which falls on March 26.

Nowruz festivities continue for 12 days and on the 13th day, people go on picnics or parties in a tradition called SizdahBedar or “thirteen in outdoors.”

On this day families enjoy the final day of their New Year holidays in the woods, mountains or along streams and rivers to avoid the bad luck associated with the number thirteen.

After the turn of the year, the first few days are spent visiting elders of the family, relatives and friends, with children receiving presents.

 

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