TO ISMAILI MUSLIM, A TIME OF HOPE, JOY - 2004-03-24

Sunday marked Navroz, the start of a new year for Ismaili Muslims around theworld. 'The celebration usually coincides with the spring equinox,' explained Salim Rahimi, an active volunteer in the Ismaili community in North Texas. 'Navroz literally means a new day, and it brings hope and joy at the onset of the new year.' As part of the traditional celebration, children paint and decorate eggs and pass them out to relatives.