Limkokwing University students celebrated the ancient Iranian Fire Festival, held on the eve of Iranian New Year ‘Nowruz’ on the 19 March 2019.
The festival was largely marked with bonfires set up in the University campus Plaza where with students and parents gathered around to jump over the flames, dancing, and singing to celebrate the arrival of spring.
When Noushin Soltani from Iran jumped over the fire, she was 3,912 miles away from home but it “felt just like at home.”
“It’s great to be here and enjoy the Iranian festival with family and friends. The same event happens in Iran, where we jump over fire, but back home, we jump on the street while celebrating the New Year,” she said while adding that she and her family have been living in Kuala Lumpur since 2011.
Far away from her regular neighborhoods, she feels “never too far” because they can still celebrate it in Malaysia.
“Fire is the symbol of purity. We believe that, when we jump over this fire, we get healthy and leave the sickness into the fire,” she said.
Limkokwing University student Ferena Francesca Grech from Malta found the Iranian Fire Festival as such a fun event.
“This is my first time participating in such celebration. It’s really fun because I never jumped over a fire before. I also like the vibe and energy here. People here are come from all over the world.”
Auron Imming from Netherlands was glad that his jumping went smoothly.
“It my first time jumping over fire and joining Iranian festival. The festival has long been held but it is still fun to be celebrated plus the story behind this event is amazing.The Iranian Fire Festival is a warm and exciting event and I could see every single person happily enjoying the event,” Auron concluded.
Maria Miranda, from Angola, described the Iranian Fire Festival as a fun festival and it sparked her desire to try something new.
“At first I thought this festival was a boring one because it was an ancient feast but when I saw it myself, I could feel the joy behind this festival filled with singing and dancing. This festival is different from other events I attend and it was so beautiful. What I know, when you jump over fire, It just likes starting a new life and forgets everything bad in life.”
The festival was organised by the Limkokwing Iranian Community and was one of the University’s multicultural celebrations performed every year by various student clubs from different nationalities.
The stage in the Plaza was decorated with the significant traditional table setting of Nowruz which displayed a sweet pudding made from wheat germ, dried fruits of the oleaster tree, garlic, apples, berries and vinegar.
The items symbolize affluence, love, medicine, beauty and health, the colour of sunrise and patience.
Apart from the Iranians, students from various country and other nationalities were also seen joining in the festivities with their Iranian friends.
