The annual Pomegranate Harvest Festival has returned to the Oraman (Hewraman) region, bringing together Kurdish communities in Iraq and Iran to celebrate the end of the pomegranate season with vibrant displays of produce and tradition.
The Oraman (Hewraman) region’s Pomegranate Harvest Festival, which marks the end of the pomegranate season, is a popular Kurdish tradition held every year in late October and early November.
This year, the festival is celebrated on both sides of the Oraman River, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat). In Halabja, Iraqi Kurdistan, the 10th Pomegranate Festival kicked off on 1 November with three days of events featuring over 700 gardeners, farmers and artisans showcasing their produce and crafts.
Halabja’s tourism office said some 110,000 visitors had come to experience the festival’s vibrant atmosphere in the first two days. Local pomegranates, honey, walnuts, traditional Kurdish dishes and handicrafts are among the offerings on display at the festival in Halabja.
While the event provides a vital economic boost by creating a valuable market for local producers, its cultural elements – particularly traditional Kurdish dance and customs – remain deeply cherished by participants.
Last year, the 9th Pomegranate Festival in Halabja attracted more than 270,000 participants, with local vendors collectively earning more than 1.3 billion Iraqi dinars from product sales.
Despite the complex political landscape, the Pomegranate Harvest Festival remains a resilient cultural tradition in Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat), continuing in the face of government opposition. The festival serves not only as a celebration of the harvest, but also as an expression of Kurdish cultural identity and heritage, which the locals are determined to uphold despite external pressures.
This year, from 30 October to 2 November, the festival was held in the picturesque village of Selin, in Mariwan’s Oraman district of Iranian Kurdistan.
Despite opposition from conservative clerics and the Iranian government, people of all ages came together to celebrate with music, dance and a vibrant display of Kurdish traditions. The festival offered a rare moment of unity and cultural expression, highlighting the community’s resilience and commitment to preserving its heritage.
With over 615 hectares of pomegranate orchards, Oraman in Iranian Kurdistan is a centre for both pomegranate farming and tourism, underlining the region’s importance in both agriculture and cultural heritage. The extensive orchards not only support the local economy, but also attract visitors eager to experience the traditions rooted in this unique landscape.
Celebrated across borders and despite political challenges, the Pomegranate Harvest Festival continues to embody the resilience, pride and dedication of the Kurdish people to preserving their cultural heritage.
