Nazy Kaviani

Photos and video by Luna Shad. Music by Reza Rohani.

And so, another old year ends and a New Day begins.

This year’s Nowruz spread came together a little differently than last year’s.

I realized that the prayer and the hope that heralds the upcoming seasonal and annual change had formed in my head a long time before getting the components of the spread together.

It is as though I have been saying these things to myself now for months.

Whether we believe in a God or in none, I doubt most people’s wishes for the New Year will be that different.

I wish for this to be a year of peace.

Please let there be no bombs, bullets, and bullies for any people in the world.

I hope it is a year of prosperity for everyone.

I hope it is a year of hope and of construction for nations.

I hope no mother mourns the death of a child.

I hope no one loses a limb to greed.

I hope there is justice in our world.

I hope no judge issues another death sentence and no one carries one out.

I hope Iran’s brilliant and courageous people are not put behind bars,

That there is no torture,

That there are no parents wondering where their children are,

That people can express their thoughts,

Exercise their beliefs,

Live as they want,

And determine their own destiny,

Without fear of persecution,

Imprisonment,

Torture,

Prosecution,

And loss of basic human rights.

I hope instead of fires and destruction, there are trees.

I hope instead of hunger and starvation there is plentitude.

I hope instead of fear and disappointment there is education, agriculture, industry, music, and arts.

I hope instead of duplicity there is honesty and fairness.

I want all of these for Iran and the good people of Iran.

But I know that there can never be good things for any one nation, unless we all want those same good things for the whole world.

I hope this is the New Day and a new beginning for the world.

Call your family and friends if they are far, hug them if they are near, make a promise to see better, to feel more, to make a change, to be more effective.

The change needs all of us.

Happy Nowruz Everyone!