March 31, 2022
Linda Blaser
Bidens mark Nowruz with Ahmad Sadri’s ‘Shahnameh’ translation
Photo reprinted with permission of the White House Press Office
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden included Professor Ahmad Sadri’s translation of Shahnameh in their Nowruz display at the White House.
Sadri’s translation was featured in a photo of the Bidens posted on The US Department of State’s Persian social media accounts written in Farsi in celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which began on the spring equinox. The Instagram post received more than 74,000 likes.
“Iranians arrange a spread of seven foods that start with the letter ‘S’ in Persian, for instance, oleander, vinegar, and sumac,” said Sadri, the Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology. “Besides the spread of seven foods, objects such as a mirror and poetic divans of Ferdowsi ( Epic of the Persian Kings)—and Hafez are included on the table. These additional items can change according to the taste of each household.”
The Bidens placed Sadri’s best-selling translation of Shahnameh to bless their Nowruz spread.
“It was a pleasant surprise to see my translation of Shahnameh at the White House Haft-Sin table for the celebration of the ancient holiday of Nowruz,” Sadri said.
Related Links:
- Read the Statement by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden Marking Nowruz | The White House
- View The US Department of State’s Persian Twitter and Instagram posts
- Learn more about Professor Ahmad Sadri