‘A day to celebrate, connect and begin again’: Naw Ruz in Mount Druitt
The community of Mount Druitt has celebrated the Baha’i new year – or Naw Ruz – with a special gathering reflecting qualities of peace, unity and diversity.
Naw Ruz, which translates to ‘new day’ in Farsi, is celebrated at the completion of the 19-day Baha’i Fast and marks the beginning of the new Baha’i calendar year.
Friends from a diversity of cultures, ages and backgrounds participated in the neighbourhood celebration which featured prayers, music, reflections on the significance of the occasion, and plenty of food.
“Naw Ruz is a spiritual springtime. It’s a reminder that things can grow and get better,” one young participant said.
“It’s a day to celebrate, to connect, and to begin again. Not just in the world around us but within ourselves.”
Another participant shared that “we celebrate not only new year but also the spirit of friendship, community, and new beginnings.”
There are no strict formulas or rules when it comes to marking Baha’i Holy Days. Each individual and community can decide how they wish to mark the special period with friends and loved ones as they learn to read the reality of their own neighbourhoods.
Naw Ruz is celebrated in multiple regions across Asia and the Middle East and is one of the Holy Days celebrated in the Baha’i calendar.
Watch the video from the Mount Druitt celebration below:
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Mt Druitt
A neighbourhood located in the west of Sydney, Mt Druitt’s children, young people and adults are passionate about contributing to the betterment of their community. Through regular gatherings, children’s festivals, junior youth camps and social action endeavours, groups of families are striving to build a vibrant community life, welcoming one and all to play an […]
Published in March, 2026, in Community Stories > Holy Days
Available online at: horizons.bahai.org.au/community-stories/a-day-to-celebrate-connect-and-begin-again-naw-ruz-in-mount-druitt/
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