DE&I: Naw-Rúz

This month, we are exploring the observance and the feast of Naw-Rúz, a holy day and the first day of the new year for those of Bahá’í faith. Naw-Rúz, or Nowruz, occurs on or around the vernal equinox (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) and is shown on the calendar as March 21, which coincides with the traditional Iranian and Persian New Year.

Bahá’í is a comparatively new religion that embraces the value that all religions have and promotes the unity of all people and prosperity of every nation, religion, race and class. The Bahá’í faith explicitly rejects racism and is estimated to have more than five million followers of worldwide.

Here at Epstein, we are fortunate to have an example of the stunning architecture in the Chicago area! Located in Wilmette, Illinois, the Bahá'í House of Worship is the second structure of its kind built anywhere in the world and is the oldest one still standing. Living and working so close to this beautiful building and gardens on a sunny Saturday afternoon in March.

Constructed between 1920 and 1922, the main Foundation Hall serves as the primary worship space for the house, and symbols of various faiths are incorporated into the intricate limestone exterior. If you visit (and you should; it’s amazing), you will notice the repetition of nine columns and gardens; a reference to the number itself, being the last ordinal number in the base-ten system, symbolizes perfection, balance, and completion.