The Persian community celebrated their New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland on Saturday afternoon.
The small but crowded event held at a former Oakland fire station on Alice Street, featured arts and crafts, handmade jewelry, food like shirini (sweets), torshi (pickled vegetables), preserves and other tasty traditional treats.
An altar set with the “half seen” or seven “s” which in Farsi means seven items starting with the letter “s” such as apple, garlic, wheat, hyacinth flower, sumac, vinegar and jujube or dried fruit. Other items included in the spread are a mirror and a candle which represent light, gold coins for prosperity, eggs for fertility, a bowl of goldfish for life, and a sour orange in a bowl of water symbolizing planet Earth, explains event planner Lily Aroosi, a native of Iran. Also, a poetry book by Persian poet Rumi is a must, she added.
Nowruz is celebrated on the spring equinox, March 20, and lasts for 13 days. And on the last day everyone goes out to nature, Aroosi says, adding that the wheatgrass grown in the display is thrown in running water carrying hopes and dreams for the year ahead.
Festival-goers attend the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Baklava made by Meena Hussain is one of the food items for sale during the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Jewelry artist Najah Alboushi looks on during the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
A book of Rumi’s poetry complements the “half seen,” or seven “s,” elements display as part of the Persian New Year celebration at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Chef Meena Rezaei sells torshies or pickled vegetables during the Persian New Year celebration at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Festival-goers attend the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Portrait of Iranian singer Googoosh is featured on T-shirts made by artist Jasmine Djavahery during the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Artist Yasmeen Abedifard sells risograph prints during the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Chef Naseem Salim shows off traditional Iranian holiday sweets called “toot” or mulberries during the Persian New Year celebration at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Chef Naseem Salim sells traditional Iranian cake (vegan) made with black seeds and pistachios and other ingredients and traditional Iranian holiday sweets called “toot,” or mulberries, during the Persian New Year celebration at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Glass pendants for necklaces made by artist Najah Alboushi were displayed during the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Artist Scheherazade Samimi paints eggs for sale during the Persian New Year celebration at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Festival-goers attend the Persian New Year at the second annual Nowruz Market 1403 in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
