On Saturday, Kurds in various provinces in Turkey marked the arrival of “Serê Salê” (Kurdish New Year), which falls on 13 January according to the Rumi calendar. Celebrations took place in cities such as Diyarbakır (Amed), Mardin (Mêrdîn) and Batman (Êlih), reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Kurdish community.
In Diyarbakır, people poured out onto the streets, knocking on doors and exchanging New Year greetings, celebrating in the vibrant “Kosegerî” tradition. Children and young people dressed in a variety of costumes paraded through the neighbourhoods accompanied by hand drums and women ululating. Snacks and toys were distributed to the children playing in the streets, adding to the joyous atmosphere.
Mardin witnessed another joyful celebration as a group of young people painted their faces, donned colourful clothes and paraded through the streets with ribbons in their hands. Their festivities included visits to shopkeepers and impromptu singing sessions on city buses, creating lively and colourful scenes.
Batman stood out with a large event held in a great hall, attracting thousands of participants dressed in local costume. The diversity of the celebrations in these cities underlined the unity and cultural richness of the Kurdish community during Serê Salê.
