POLLYWOOD Rep. Mike Honda and Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Hon. Peter Harrell, Rep. Donna Edwards and Morad Ghorban
Dr. Azar Nafisi
Alidad Mafinezam and Rep. Andre Carson
Yousef Javadi and Saghi MoJabal
NOROOZ ON CAPITOL HILL Rayburn House Office Building | PHOTOS BY BEN DROZ RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR: The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans hosted a reception on the Hill to mark not only Norooz, the traditional Persian New Year, but to also celebrate the resolution put before Congress by Rep. Mike Honda to recognize the “cultural and historical significance of Norooz. Also on hand to celebrate this historial resolution was professor and best-selling author Azar Nafisi. Norooz occurs each year on the vernal equinox, celebrating the arrival of spring. With the arrival of warmer weather, a new year and the hope of official recognition by Congress, there was much to celebrate indeed. VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS AT WWW WASHINGTONLIFE COM
Ladan Ahmadi and Stephanie Anim-Yankah
Mona Okhavat, Monra Yazdani, Robert Babayi and Setareh Ebrahimian
Her Imperial Majesty Farah Pahlavi
Michael Werbowetzki, Capt. Penny Walter and Vice Adm. Phillip Cullom Faisal Al Enezi, Dasko Shirwani and Ezzaddin Haji
NOWRUZ COMMISSION GALA Andrew Mellon Auditorium | PHOTOS BY BEN DROZ SPRING FORWARD: Guests from near and far celebrated the Persian new year and the arrival of spring at the Commission’s sixth annual gala and dinner. The 500 guests at the grand affair included diplomats, dignitaries and senior military brass from the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia, including Her Imperial Majesty Farah Pahlavi, the widow of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Turkish Amb. Serdar Kilic and Azerbaijani Amb. Elin Suleymanov. Commission Vice Chairman Bijan Kian read a message of greeting from President Barack Obama while guests enjoyed cultural music and dance presentations.
Scott and Flavia Modell 34
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