• An Iranian man dressed as Haji Firuz, the traditional herald of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, dances and collects money among the people shopping at a street market for the festivities, in Tehran. Traditionally, Iranians buy goldfish and flowers to mark Nowruz, which this year falls on March 20. EPA
    An Iranian man dressed as Haji Firuz, the traditional herald of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, dances and collects money among the people shopping at a street market for the festivities, in Tehran. Traditionally, Iranians buy goldfish and flowers to mark Nowruz, which this year falls on March 20. EPA
  • Kyrgyz riders play the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok boru (Gray Wolf) or Buzkashi (Goat Grabbing) in Cholpon-Ata near Issyk Kule lake some 250kms from Bishkek. Riders compete for points by throwing a stuffed sheepskin into a well in games dedicated to the celebration of Nowruz. AFP
    Kyrgyz riders play the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok boru (Gray Wolf) or Buzkashi (Goat Grabbing) in Cholpon-Ata near Issyk Kule lake some 250kms from Bishkek. Riders compete for points by throwing a stuffed sheepskin into a well in games dedicated to the celebration of Nowruz. AFP
  • Kyrgyz riders play the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok boru or Buzkashi, marking the first day of Iranian New Year. AFP
    Kyrgyz riders play the traditional Central Asian sport of Kok boru or Buzkashi, marking the first day of Iranian New Year. AFP
  • Goldfish are for sale at a street market for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Tehran. EPA
    Goldfish are for sale at a street market for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Tehran. EPA
  • Iranians shop at a street market for Nowruz, which has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and is the most revered celebration in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and portions of western China and northern Iraq. EPA
    Iranians shop at a street market for Nowruz, which has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and is the most revered celebration in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, India, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and portions of western China and northern Iraq. EPA
  • Iranians shop at a street market for Nowruz in Tehran. EPA
    Iranians shop at a street market for Nowruz in Tehran. EPA
  • The celebration of renewal, and the coming spring is said to date back to at least the 6th century. It is one of the holiest days in the ancient Zoroastrian calendar. EPA
    The celebration of renewal, and the coming spring is said to date back to at least the 6th century. It is one of the holiest days in the ancient Zoroastrian calendar. EPA
  • An Iranian man plays music among the cars to collect money during Norwuz. EPA
    An Iranian man plays music among the cars to collect money during Norwuz. EPA
  • An Iranian girl and boy dressed as Haji Firuz. EPA
    An Iranian girl and boy dressed as Haji Firuz. EPA
  • While there are many unique traditions connected to the Nowruz that run across the globe, many communities will mark today with some sort of feast, and by spending time with family members and friends. EPA
    While there are many unique traditions connected to the Nowruz that run across the globe, many communities will mark today with some sort of feast, and by spending time with family members and friends. EPA

MENA

Iraq

Nowruz celebrated by Iraqi Kurds with fire and fireworks

The festivities are marked across the region

The National

March 22, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Thousands of people in northern Iraq celebrated Nowruz, a festival of ancient Persian origin which marks the new year.

Nowruz celebrates the start of spring and the coming solar Hijri year. It has its roots in Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion.

It is celebrated by Kurdish people on March 21.

Men and women in the northern Kurdish town of Akre welcomed their new year by lighting torches and fires, and climbing a mountain where large Kurdish flags flew beneath fireworks displays.

Nowruz symbolises the passing of the dark season, and the arrival of the season of light.

The festival is celebrated by Kurds in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria.

It symbolises Kurdish culture and the struggle of the Kurds for their own autonomous nation.

More than 20 million Kurds live in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Turkey.

Newroz in Kurdish, or Nowruz in Farsi, means New Day and it is also known as Persian New Year.

The festival in Akre draws thousands of people every year.

The holiday, dating to at least 1,700BC and incorporating ancient Zoroastrian traditions, is the most important event in the Iranian calendar and for Kurds in the region, yet only a very small number of people worldwide still practice the Zoroastrian religion.

On Sunday, UAE leaders offered their best wishes to those celebrating the festival of Nowruz.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, sent his greetings on Twitter saying he hoped for peace and happiness for all.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, wished those celebrating the festival of Nowruz “peace, prosperity and well-being”.

“Congratulations to all those celebrating Nowruz, both in the UAE and around the world. May the year ahead be one of peace, prosperity and well-being for all,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter on Sunday.

Updated: March 22, 2022, 2:09 PM
Iraq