21 March 2005

Baha’is from Westminster and some of the other London boroughs had a great Naw-Ruz party last night at the home of one of the Baha’i families in Westminster. There were well over 100 people there, as many as 140 by one estimate. Yet everyone got fed and there was some classy entertainment: a harpist; a singer-song writer who did a couple of numbers; a fruity baritone from Hammersmith whose voice had seen better days and who sang, unaccompanied, a song about - inappropriately for a Spring festival - autumn leaves; and Anthony & Joyce singing Baha’i prayers to music written by Anthony. Actually, Anthony’s music is what I enjoyed most and felt was most appropriate for a Baha’i festival.

It was an extraordinary diverse gathering: toddlers to grannies (including yoof), different ethnicities, different religions, diversity of all kinds. And we had a great time. Our hosts were, as always, very welcoming.