Spring Equinox Festival

Greek born musical arranger, lead guitarist, and bouzouki virtuoso Avram Pengas is a versatile performer who plays popular Israeli hits, exotic Arabic melodies, pulsating Persian and Turkish rhythms, Armenian dances and traditional Yiddish songs. Born in Greece, Pengas is a skilled musical arranger, guitarist, and self-taught bouzouki virtuoso. Pengas’ Noga Group has been a staple of New York’s downtown music scene for nearly twenty years.

Attendees can try authentic Persian food for Nowruz while looking out at the beautiful views of New York Harbor.

The US Backgammon Federation will offer lessons in Backgammon (a two-player board game that dates back nearly 5,000 years to Mesopotamia and Persia) along with open play.

Educators from Pardis for Children will lead children and families in activities to learn about Nowruz.

Rebecca Bidgoli was inspired to create her body of work when she was studying photography, and she realized that her experience as a Jewish woman in Iran was unique. Worldwide, few Jews know about the plight of those living in Iran, and many of those who do live in the country are unable to leave and share their stories. Bidgoli decided to record the evidence of the existence of Jewish people who have lived in Iran for the past 2,500 years and protect a number of important cultural sites in the country. This is the first time Bidgoli’s photographs are being publicly displayed.

Rebecca Bidgoli and her daughter, Tehila Soleimani, will be talking about the inspiration behind Rebecca’s body of work and what it was like living as a Jewish person in Iran throughout the Iranian revolution and Iran-Iraq war. The talk will also highlight a few key artworks that Rebecca feels are the best representation of the broader Jewish story and the story of Persian Jews.

Rebecca Bidgoli was inspired to create her body of work when she was studying photography, and she realized that her experience as a Jewish woman in Iran was unique. Worldwide, few Jews know about the plight of those living in Iran, and many of those who do live in the country are unable to leave and share their stories. Bidgoli decided to record the evidence of the existence of Jewish people who have lived in Iran for the past 2,500 years and protect a number of important cultural sites in the country. This is the first time Bidgoli’s photographs are being publicly displayed.

Rebecca Bidgoli and her daughter, Tehila Soleimani, will be talking about the inspiration behind Rebecca’s body of work and what it was like living as a Jewish person in Iran throughout the Iranian revolution and Iran-Iraq war. The talk will also highlight a few key artworks that Rebecca feels are the best representation of the broader Jewish story and the story of Persian Jews.

Nikki Farahanchi is an Iranian American dance artist, specialized in the field of Persian dance. Inspired by her summer travels to Iran, Nikki has been a learner, lover, and educator of Persian dance for the last seven years. She is extremely passionate about sharing traditional and contemporary Iranian dance with both diaspora members and the broader New York City community. Nikki graduated with her bachelor’s in business from the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan in 2022, and has since used her business degree to start a Manhattan based Persian dance school (IG: @nikki.dancee). She is a Persian dance instructor at Pardis for Children and a dedicated float leader for NYC’s annual Persian Parade since 2023. The piece featured for this event is called Parvaaz, a blend of Sufi, Classical, Bandari, and Kurdish dance that showcases the beauty and diversity of vibrant cultures that exist in Iran today. Dancing alongside her are Nikki’s advanced Persian performance group members: Mina Naderpoor, Angelique Cabanero, Jade Owhadi, and Lea Mishael.

POMEXPO, Heliyah Sefat, afidot, American Sephardi Federation, Tehila Soleimani, Suzan Safari

Haft-sin: The haft-sin is an ancient ceremonial table and the centerpiece of Nowruz. It showcases the 7 ’S’s—seven items starting with the letter ‘S’ in Persian, each symbolizing hope, renewal, and prosperity for the coming year. The Museum’s haft-sin is designed by Ina Marzan of Mibelle Flowers.