Persian Parade Day
PERSIAN PARADE DAY was held on Saturday March 27, on Madison
Avenue in Manhattan between 41st and 27th Streets.
Click here for a brochure
of the parade
The extravaganza commencing at about 10 in the morning brought thousands
of proud Americans of Iranian heritage, complemented by additional many
thousands of local NYC residents and other onlooker along the parade
line waiving the American and Iranian flags who cheered, sang, danced,
kissed and hugged along with several hundred active presenters at the
parade on many beautifully decorated floats, carriages, and several
marching bands. Despite the rather strenuous time frame of less than
six weeks from the time NYC granted the permit, and in lieu of the financial
constraints, the organizers were, nonetheless able to compensate such
hurdles by over dedications and perseverance thereby presenting a first
class parade of such magnitude and scope as their first experience.
The NYC public law enforcement officials were so impressed to note the
event did not even yield a single minor incident of argument and was
concluded so peacefully. Out of the nearly one million Americans of
Iranian heritage, it is estimated that one hundreds of them reside in
the New York metropolitan four-state (NY-CT-NJ-PA 50 miles vicinity.
The only whispering sentiments and unanimous consensus in the crowd
was the expression of appreciations toward the primarily unknown few
philanthropists and civic leaders in the community who had extended
their own personal funds and restless dedications to make the event
such a huge success! A four-page PDF pamphlet as attached for your upload,
forwarding and printing in your magazine, describing Nowruz, the Persian
new years, a brief history of Iran, and the Parade line up as summarized
below was distributed in the thousands, and received very warmly.
Article from NY1.com:
Originally at http://www.ny1.com/ny/Search/SubTopic/index.html?&contentintid=38464&search_result=1
Persian Parade Down Madison Avenue Kicks Off Start Of Spring
MARCH 27TH, 2004
The inaugural Persian Parade kicked off a New Year and the start of
spring Saturday.
The parade down Madison Avenue celebrated the Nowruz season, which
means New Year.
Organizers hope this will become an annual tradition here for Iranian-Americans.
The participants also hope it will go a long way to change the perception
of Iranians. Many feel they are negatively associated with elements
of the Arab world.
“I guess having this kind of parade just anything Iranian, showing
our culture, showing what we are, I think it's the best way to get our
name out,” said one parade goer.
“I think it's the first time the Iranian community has come together
to form such a parade and I hope it keeps going on,” said one
man.
“I think I was extremely impressed. It's the first time in 25
years I can say I'm proud to be Persian,” said another man who
watched the parade.
Marchers dressed in a variety of traditional clothes. There was also
different music and theatrical performances.
A number of regional and ethnic groups within Iran were also represented.
