Limkokwing University celebrated Norouz, the Persian New Year in London this year with its students and guests hailing from the UK’s Persian community. Norouz means ‘New Day’ and is regarded by Persians as the start of spring and the first day of the year. Norouz’s proud history stretches back almost 3,000 years.

The University observed several traditional practices, even preparing the traditional table setting of Norouz called the ‘Haft Seen’ that includes seven specific items that all start with the letter ‘seen’ in the Persian alphabet. Those seven items are Seeb (apple), Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinager), Samanoo (a meal made out of wheat), Senjed (a special kind of berry), Sekke (coin) and Seer (garlic).

Pejman Danaei (middle) is one of the youngest Iranian filmmakers in the industry.

The University invited Festival director and judge of the London Iranian Film Festival, Pejman Danaei along with several renowned Persian artists who came to perform. Danaei, one of the youngest Iranian filmmakers around, helped to select the final entries for the London Iranian Film Festival out of the sheer volume of short films, documentaries, features and animated films submitted. In total, 471 films from 53 countries were sent to the jury, demonstrating the prolific nature of Iranian filmmaking itself.

“This New Year was one of the most educational New Year that I had in the UK, which was organized by the University, and I have enjoyed myself a lot. I am very touched by how Limkokwing University with its diversified number of students and staff have put in together and made this New Year a very joyful one for me,” said Danaei.

Limkokwing University also treated its guests to a screening of the Persian film ‘A Separation’ that won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in February of this year.