Inclusive celebration of Persian New Year – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

More than 600 people, mainly from Shepparton’s Afghan community, gathered to celebrate Nowruz — the Persian New Year — on Saturday evening.

Goulburn Valley Afghani Association president Nasim Gulzari said Mooroopna’s Sir Ian McLennan Centre was filled with music, dancing, food and people from various multicultural groups across the district.

Representatives from community and government organisations, such as Shepparton police, Greater Shepparton City Council, Primary Care Connect, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District and UnitingCare Cutting Edge also attended.

Mr Gulzari said it was an inclusive, happy occasion.

‘We are a new community — we like to celebrate and invite other communities to join us,’ he said.

He said members from Shepparton’s Iraqi, Sudanese and Congolese communities enjoyed the festivities. ‘It was full of joy and happiness,’ Mr Gulzari said.

He said Nowruz has been celebrated in Shepparton for the past five years, with previous events at the Shepparton’s GV Hotel. Nowruz marks the first day of spring, or equinox, in the Solar Hiriji calendar — the official calendar of Iran and Afghanistan.

Article and image courtesy Shepparton News

	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.