Newroz celebrations in Şırnak (Şirnex), a southeastern Kurdish-majority city in Turkey, commenced with fervour as residents, from dawn of Sunday, flocked to the event site, ready to embrace the day with music and traditional Kurdish dance, halay.
Under the banner “It’s the time of freedom and victory,” the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party initiated the festivities. Notable attendees included DEM Party MP Pervin Buldan and Co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Berdan Öztürk, alongside thousands of participants, including the Free Women’s Movement (TJA) and Peace Mothers.
The site, adorned with DEM Party flags and situated 14 kilometres from the city centre, welcomed participants, including the elderly with canes and children excited by the music. Women in traditional attire and young men and women in shal-shepik contributed to the vibrant atmosphere.
Artists Hozan Vedat, Kadir Çat and Şehrîbana Kurdî are set to perform, with Buldan and Öztürk delivering speeches. Following Buldan’s address, the Newroz fire will be lit, symbolising the Kurdish New Year’s spirit of renewal and resistance.