Persians Bring Autumn Sun to SC!
It
has been some time that the sun has had the same color for me, the sharp hot
sun of Southern California day after day, and the seasons that come and go
without leaving a trace in my memory as it is hard to sense a change of season
in here..
But
today I have a different feeling; the sun in “Orange County “ has that weak,
pale feeling of autumn sun of Tehran. While listening to the screams of fallen
leaves under my footsteps on the Orange County fair grounds, I think:” Is it
the miracle of Persian “ Mehregan” that has brought fall to this land?
Yes,
the venue is the Mehregan Festival, an Old Persian celebration of the beginning
of fall. I remember back home on such occasion we only used to get together and
read poems. There was not such a mass celebration among the majority of people
like Norooz. But now I see that in this land Mehregan is another reason for
making a crowd, for celebration of Persian heritage and for exchanging those
familiar looks. I welcome it, we all do, right?
The entrance was a true reminder of the “Takht-
e - Jamshid” glory, the
remainders of pillars, and the ancient Persian lions. The path then would lead
me to the “Sei va Se pol of Isfahan”. At this point I was
welcomed by a beautiful lady with big eyes and green scarf. I do not know why
but I could see all those “ Chaikhoone’s” under the bridge, I could hear the voice of
“ Zaiandeh Rood”, I could feel if I pass this bridge I
will be in “ Chahar Bagh” , all and all by just seeing the sign
of “ Sei va Se Pol”.
On
my left I was attracted to the “Meidoon-e- Shahiad” that served
not as the as the symbol of
approaching “Mehrabad airport “but
approaching “Chai khane! There were a good number of traditional takhts
covered with colorful carpets and ghalis filled with people
enjoying the flute, Violin and accordion performing: “Ai ghari bagh ghari
bagh …”. My eyes witnessed people enjoying the ultimate pleasure of
Persian cuisine and my nose, being a good guide did not let me suffer much.
Soon I was deciding which one to take: Jooje , Kubideh, Ash Reshte
… I heard a lady calling me:” Ahai khanom ba oon lebas e irooni , ash reshte khale che michasbe ….
!” I smile … look at my colorful vest and make my mind. The scene of
the Jooje with goje and those reihoons
invades my mind. Just a word can describe it: irresistible …and soon I am
enjoying every bite of this food on an orange carpet at the very end row of Chaikhoone
…
Next
to Chaikhoone , I saw a sign: “Ketab khane Melli e Iran”. Oh! I remember that old “ketab
khoone Melli e Iran “ in “Sei
–e – Tir” street and I sigh … I loved its old building and the whole
area .. A few blocks further was “Abgine Museum” and then: “Bonyad
Cinemaii- e- Faaraabi” in a big
garden .. then came “Toop khoone” and “Sar-e- dar-e- bagh-e- melli” … I stop flying in
the skies and ask about how they are doing in Los Angeles, the answer
comes: 8000 books and 300 films. Seems
a good record ..
How
often do you update? “As soon as a new film or book comes to the market” . That
sounds impressive …
How
do you get support? “If we get 1000 members, the state will support us” .
and how many members you have now? “275 members” … Sounds a bit intimidating.. but thinking about the official number of 270,000 Iranians in Southern California and unofficial number of 600,000 , you expect that a 1000 should not be a never reaching goal … Soon I am a new member although I am positive that I will not be using this membership much because of the time, distance and all those complex elements of ‘la vie quotidian en LA” ( daily life of LA) .. Supporting this idea seems to me a good step in strengthening the pillars of a cultural foundation.
I
pass different provinces: Gilan, Kordestan, Fars and so many
times I am drowned to the colors of magnificent women clothes of these
provinces. In Gilan I am taken aback by all the activities that are going on
among Geilaki people … the book, the gatherings and the support
that they are giving their friends and family back home by their donations.
Even back in Iran I had not seen so many books on Geilaki dialect
all at one place ! Amazing! The most touching part for me was the crowd of
hens, roosters and chickens at one corner. It took me back to the memories I
had with “Shomal- e –Iran”, sun rise over the lawns and the
feeling of sundew on the cheeks while hearing the cries of the roosters
announcing the morning … sounds to me ages since I ever met a live rooster in
its own environment …
Under
a roofed environment you can find representative of different Iranian
businesses, any type of business from daily life businesses:
Photography services, travel agency, home loans to
humanitarian foundations: Child Foundation, to Non profit cultural
organization: AIAP (Association of Iranian American Professionals) to
Idealistic business ideas: Parsian
Complex: A place for gathering all Persians from all Southern
California, Mini Persian capital in Orange County …Hey, This community is growing fast and it is so
active …. I saw a Credit Card with the big photo of “ Meidoon - e-
Shahiad “ on it … “ Hamzaboon”(1) a credit card with a
national Iranian logo on it .. To me it sounds cool to have a credit card with
a national, Persian logo on it that is distinguished from all other credit
cards.. I do not want to go into the long details of the power that it might
bring to Persian community. Just I like its uniqueness and what brings to my
mind when looking at it …
Child
foundation (2)was another surprise for me … They were doing an awesome job of
supporting diligent, studious children in Iran with the help of “ Madad
karan- e- ejtemaii”. I looked at the letters that the supported
children had written, from inside the childish manuscripts I was feeling the
depth of the gratitude that the child might feel for a considerable amount of
200,000 rials which is just another $20 note spent on a simple
dinner in this part of the world. I was assured that I can keep track of the
child on a regular basis to make sure that the money is being spent as it
should …I am impressed enough to go with it!
With a heart as light as a feather with all this
cooperation to have a better, stronger community, I join the dance crowd in
front of the performing stage… Farshid Amin is singing: Nastarn , ei
eshgh-e- man .. Nastear, ba tu del-e-
man …. “ and the young crowd is moving their bodies with those
traditional movements of what is called : raghs-e- irooni” .. I
hear a sentence: “ Na baba , ein nasl e jadid ham khoob gher meidan!”
That is right .. seems that they carry the genes of “ gher dadan e irooni
var” .. I join the crowd and happily I think this NIPOC(Network of Iranian
– American Professionals of Orange County)(3) folks have done a great job at
this Mehregan! Thanks and see you next year!
Katayoon
Hadizadeh;
Los
Angeles; October 30,2002
*With special thanks to
Farbod Mehr for helping with photos
If you are more interested :
(2) http://www.childfoundation.org/
(3) http://www.persianvillage.com/