Where to Celebrate Persian New Year in Atlanta

For a significant group of people, the lunar equinox on March 19 brings not just a new season, but also a new year. Nowruz, which translates to “new day” in Farsi (also known as Persian), is the holiday marking the new year in the Persian calendar around the globe. Celebrations commence in Iran and Afghanistan, as well as among the Persian diaspora and Parsi (Zoroastrian) communities worldwide. This year, Nowruz takes place on Tuesday, March 19, at 11:06 p.m. EST.

The Traditions of Nowruz

The community that honors Nowruz follows the lunar calendar and is renowned for traditions including house cleaning, family visits, and picnicking on Sizdah Dedar, the 13th day of the new year. A set of celebratory dishes are prepared during this period, such as sabzi polo mahi (herbed rice accompanied by white fish), kuku sabzi (a baked omelet packed with herbs), and ash-e-reshteh, a soup made with beans, lentils, herbs, greens, and kaskh, a type of fermented yogurt.

Celebrating Nowruz in Atlanta

From an array of food specials to cultural events, Atlanta has much to offer for Nowruz celebrations. Here are some places and events where you can embrace the holiday in the city:

Atlanta Persian Festival

The Kanoon Persian Cultural Center will host the annual Atlanta Persian Festival at Piedmont Park on Sunday, April 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The festival will be graced by booths from Delbar Middle Eastern and Shish Kabob restaurants, in addition to the presence of Mediterranean Gyro and Cagen’s food trucks.

Delbar Middle Eastern

Each Delbar location will honor the traditions of Nowruz by arranging a table with the Haft Siin, a collection of seven symbolic items. Diners can enjoy traditional dishes like kookoo sabzi and a sabzi polo and mahi dish with red snapper, zeytoun salad, and herbed sabzi rice, from March 19-April 2.

Divan

The culinary team at Divan will be serving sabzi polo with pan-roasted grouper from Monday, March 18, to Sunday, March 31.

Le Bon Nosh

Le Bon Nosh will serve seared flounder and sabzi polo from March 17-23. It will also host a cooking class focusing on Persian cuisine on March 21, where attendees will learn how to prepare the traditional fish and rice dish, alongside a gem salad and cardamom creme brulee.

Persian Basket Kitchen & Bar

Get all of your Nowruz essentials at Persian Basket Kitchen & Bar’s market or through their online store. It has a wide array of sweets and decorations perfect for your Haft Siin, in addition to other supplies you might need for your Nowruz celebrations.

Rumi’s Kitchen

All Rumi’s locations in Atlanta will serve their noteworthy sabzi polo mahi made with red snapper and herbed rice from March 19-22.

Sufi’s Kitchen

Sufi’s Kitchen is planning a grand Nowruz party featuring live entertainment, dancers, and holiday food on Tuesday, March 19 from 7:00 to 11:30 p.m.

Yalda Persian & Middle Eastern Restaurant

Finally, Yalda’s Roswell location will be hosting a much-anticipated Nowruz cookout on Sunday, March 24.

In conclusion, no matter where you choose to celebrate, Nowruz in Atlanta promises to be a colorful, tasty, and exciting celebration. So, mark your calendars and prepare to join the festivities, regardless of where you come from or what traditions you follow.