Augusta hosted its first celebration of Nowruz, meaning "new day," on Tuesday in honor of the vernal equinox and the Persian New Year. About 60 residents from Augusta and Hallowell with four families from Afghanistan that recently settled in Augusta attended the event at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Augusta.
Sarah Nichols, right, of West Gardiner, prepares a traditional Nowruz table Tuesday in celebration of the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring. She explained that the items, symbolic of the holiday, include sumac, olives, coins, apples, garlic, sprouts and flowers.
Chris Myers Asch, center, from the Capital Area New Mainers Project, greets guests and newly resettled Afghanistan families Tuesday as they arrive for a celebration of the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz. The organization hosted the event at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Augusta. It featured music, a potluck dinner and flowers.
Judy Feinstein, center, of Augusta, greets guests as they arrive Tuesday at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Augusta for a celebration of Nowruz. The guests included four families from Afghanistan who resettled in Augusta seven weeks ago. Nowruz, a secular holiday, is celebrated on the first day of spring in conjunction with the Persian New Year.
News 
