Over a hundred people had arrived at El Jardin del Paraiso, a community garden on East 4th Street. They were celebrating Chaharshanbe Suri, which loosely translates to “Red Wednesday,” a traditional fire festival held every year on the eve of the last Wednesday before Persian New Year, Nowruz, which starts this Sunday on the vernal equinox. And part of the fun is building big bonfires and jumping over the flames. — Anita Abedian
Photos by Nick Childers for the Village Voice
Read more:
The New York Persian Community’s Fire Festival Sets Blazes to Summon Spring