Celebrating Naw-Ruz with family in Thames Valley

Published on by TVBahai1 Comment
Naw-Ruz in Thames Valley Baha'is celebrate Naw-Ruz in 2012
Three generations of Baha'is celebrate Naw-Ruz together in 2012 in the Thames Valley.

Family is important to Bahá’ís throughout the world, so for three generations of Bahá’ís living in West Berkshire there was nothing better than getting together to celebrate Naw-Ruz.

All three generations of the same family, as well as their friends, celebrated the Bahá’í New Year by going out for a meal, then gathered together to continue the celebration with prayers, socialising and more food in Newbury.

Myra Erbenova said: “Naw-Ruz is a very important day for Bahá’ís everywhere. It symbolises new beginnings in all aspects of life. It’s the dawn of a new day for the whole of mankind and when we look forward to a united world.”

Most societies and cultures recognise the family as a necessary and fundamental unit, but many changes are occurring to threaten its well-being and the happiness of its members. Bahá’ís recognise the family is a microcosm of the world.

Myra said: “The family’s unity must be preserved if the unity and peace of our planet is to be realised.”

Nine lives? No, nine major faiths working as one. . .

Published on by TVBahaiLeave a comment

Thames Valley Baha’i Community has welcomed a government-sponsored initiative to encourage people of all beliefs to help improve their local neighbourhoods.

Launched at the national Baha’i centre in London, it’s a move to promote collaboration between the UK’s nine major faith communities – Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian.

Shawn Khorassani, a Thames Valley Baha’i, said: “This announcement is great news, coming as it did just a couple of weeks before Naw-Ruz – which symbolises new beginnings in the Baha’i faith. Unity is very important to Baha’is. We hope this will help to cement relationships between the UK’s nine major faiths.”

The program, titled “A Year of Service”, aims to recognise the role of faith in inspiring charitable work. Twelve special volunteering days are being held during 2012, each of them coinciding with an existing religious festival and focusing on a distinct theme for community action.