Cloud of Discontent Mars Iranian Festival

The blue skies, mild breezes and warm temperatures brightened William R. Mason Regional Park on Sunday, but the mood held a definite element of gloom for some of the thousands who came here to celebrate the Iranian New Year.

Many had to park more than a mile away and then walk to the event. Others had shorter treks but only after forking over as much as $15 for parking. And for many, the event resembled a swap meet more than a family picnic, with about 100 booth operators peddling rugs, sunglasses and long-distance telephone service.

It was not surprising, said Mariam Khosravani, a leader of the local Iranian American community, that only about 11,000 people showed up, compared with about 30,000 last year.

“The people who run this park have made a clear statement that they don’t want Iranians here,” Khosravani said. “We’re upset that we’re not getting fair treatment.”

While many attendees were clearly enjoying themselves, feasting and dancing at the afternoon event, there also was an undercurrent of anger with local authorities who had changed some of the rules--and prices--for this year’s gathering.

Khosravani said authorities were successful in discouraging people from attending the event by enforcing strict parking rules and even suggesting that people celebrate elsewhere.

Police said they enforced strict traffic rules only in response to residents’ complaints that the celebration created traffic and parking nightmares in their neighborhoods.

The event, known as Sezdeh Bedar, is typically held 13 days after the Zorostrian New Year. Iranians throughout the world meet in parks, beaches and other outdoor settings to celebrate, as it is considered bad luck to be indoors on this day.

For more than a decade, many of the estimated 500,000 Iranians who live in Southern California have congregated in Irvine for the largest celebration of the Iranian New Year outside of Iran.

But this year, there were some signs that the event would not be as festive as before.

In a news release distributed in the Iranian community last week, Irvine Police Chief Charles Brobeck warned attendees that a shuttle service, which transported participants in previous years from the UCI parking lot to the county park, had been discontinued.

Brobeck encouraged attendees “to reduce the number of items” they bring to the park, as all items would have to be hauled to the park from parking lots more than a mile away.

The police chief had a final word of advice: People interested in celebrating the event should also consider going to five other regional parks in Orange County.

Farrokh Shadab, a Fountain Valley pediatrician, said he considered the police chief’s suggestion insulting.

“People from San Diego to Santa Barbara look forward to meeting their friends and relatives here each year,” Shadab said. “For [the authorities] to suggest we take the celebration elsewhere is disrespectful.”

In previous years, the event was organized by the Network of Iranian Professionals of Orange County, but county parks officials recently took control.

When that happened, the event turned from the traditional family picnic to a mini-fair. County officials charged booth operators $225 for a spot in the park. Parking fees for the day were hiked to $10 from the usual $4.

The University United Methodist Church, across the street from the park, offered its parking spaces for $15 each.

“This is a rip-off,” fumed Russell Bonakdar, a software engineer from Santa Monica, after collecting his parking receipt.

Bonakdar was accompanied by his wife, Mina, who is eight months’ pregnant.

Not everyone was aware of the problems.

Mahre Saatchi of Anaheim Hills and her husband, Abdolah Olang, said they were excited to be at the event. Throughout the day, they met friends, some of whom they had not seen since they left Iran.

Under a wooden pavilion, a young man wearing a Colorado Rockies cap pounded a drum and burst into a Farsi song. Women jumped into a circle, swaying their hips to the cheers of onlookers.

Throughout the day, families gathered around picnic baskets to share their food, including kebabs, pita bread and Persian sweets.

Mynoo Sharifan, who heads a local Iranian cultural group, noted that the new year marks a time of renewal and forgiveness.

“We hope this year everyone can work together to make this a better celebration,” Sharifan said.

Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea said in an interview Sunday evening that she was concerned about the discomfort participants endured because of the stricter parking rules and lack of shuttle service.

“We want to make it clear that Persians are very welcome in our city,” Shea said.

Shea said she plans to work with county parks officials, Irvine police and local Iranian leaders to avoid the same problems next year.