The traditional Yazidi festival known as Çarşema Sor is joyously celebrated across various Kurdish regions in Turkey, Iraq and Syria. This annual festivity serves as a manifestation of their ongoing struggle for recognition and autonomy, especially following the 2014 genocidal campaign by the Islamic State (ISIS).
On 17 April, Sinjar (Şengal), the historical Yazidi land in northern Iraq, became a hub of cultural celebration as the Yazidi community marked Çarşema Sor, the start of their new year.
The main event was held in the Valley of Kers in Sinune (Sinunê), decorated with red flowers and filled with locals in traditional dress.
The Autonomous Administration of Sinjar organised the celebrations, with Nayif Şimo, co-president of the Sinjar Democratic Autonomous Assembly, highlighting the role of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in inspiring the defence and autonomy of Sinjar. “We hope to celebrate next year in complete freedom,” Şimo stated, expressing hope that the festivities would contribute to the liberation of Sinjar and honour Öcalan’s legacy.
In Idil (Hezex), a town with a historically strong Yazidi population in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Şırnak (Şirnex), the Çarşema Sor celebrations were similarly vibrant. Locals gathered at the village cemetery early in the morning and later enjoyed a picnic under oak trees. The festival was characterised by the cracking of coloured eggs and the distribution of colourful threads, symbolic of blessing and protection.
Meanwhile, Urfa’s (Riha) Viranşehir (Wêranşar) witnessed its first large-scale Çarşema Sor celebration, an important addition to Turkey’s cultural landscape. The event included a variety of traditional foods, music and communal prayers. Notable attendees included local politicians and leaders from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, who joined in the festivities and delivered speeches emphasising the Yazidis’ enduring spirit and cultural significance.
A delegation from the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) also participated in the Çarşema Sor festivities held in the Jazira region on 17 April. The event was attended by representatives from various civil and military institutions, women’s organisations, and political parties from the region.
