Members of the Bahá’í faith from across Long Island gathered at the Bahá’í Center in Valley Stream to celebrate Naw-Rúz, the faith’s New Year.
The event on March 20 began at 6:30 p.m. and included a dinner, a short program of prayers and readings, and time for fellowship. Organizers opened the celebration to the public and followers of the faith, emphasizing a welcoming atmosphere centered on unity and community.
Naw-Rúz, meaning “New Day,” marks the end of a 19-day fast observed by adult Bahá’ís, who abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset as a period of prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal.
The Valley Stream center, the only dedicated Bahá’í Center on Long Island, serves as a regional gathering place for local communities that meet regularly and organize activities through elected bodies known as Local Spiritual Assemblies. The faith has no clergy.
The celebration featured decorative elements tied to themes of renewal and spring, including flowers, butterflies and eggs, as well as a traditional Haft-Sin table displaying symbolic items associated with growth and new beginnings.
