Intellectuals call for strong participation in Newroz celebrations to affirm national rights

As March 21 approaches, the people of Rojava are preparing to organize popular and cultural events to celebrate the Newroz festival. Fires will be lit, traditional folkloric clothing will be worn, and Kurdish songs and traditional dances will be performed in public squares. These celebrations come at a sensitive time for the Kurdish people this year, amid attacks and security tensions affecting them in Rojava, Southern Kurdistan, and Eastern Kurdistan.

Newroz of Unity

In this context, our agency conducted several interviews with intellectuals from the city of Hasakah to discuss the symbolism of Newroz for the Kurdish people and what distinguishes this year’s celebration.

Poet and writer Mohammad Bashir said:

“I extend my congratulations and blessings to the Kurdish people, the world, and everyone who longs for freedom on the occasion of the 2726th Newroz. On this day, the Newroz flame was lit by Kawa the Blacksmith, and that flame marked the beginning of liberation from oppression and tyranny.”

Bashir added that throughout their history, the Kurdish people have experienced many crises and wars, yet they have continued to celebrate this festival. He stressed that celebrating Newroz this year should serve as an occasion to strengthen Kurdish unity and highlight the festival as a symbol of freedom and resilience.

He explained that the current stage requires demonstrating unity at both the popular and political levels, as unity represents a source of strength for the Kurdish people in confronting challenges and safeguarding their rights and achievements.

Flame That Must Always Burn

Writer and critic Abdulwahab Birani stated that the month of March could be called “the Kurdish month,” as it includes many events and occasions connected to the Kurdish cause and culture, whether joyful or painful.

He added that the national Newroz festival is a symbol of renewal and freedom and embodies the Kurdish people’s aspiration for liberty after a long struggle spanning thousands of years so that they may have their voice and live on their historical land.

Birani pointed out that Newroz is not merely a festive occasion; rather, it is a historical, legendary, cultural, and national celebration carrying profound humanitarian meanings. He emphasized that celebrating it this year comes amid rapidly changing and dramatic developments in Syria, marked by both victories and setbacks.

He added that the people of Rojava are also living in a state of sorrow, expressing solidarity with the mothers of prisoners and detainees and with the families of martyrs. He expressed hope that the Newroz flame will always remain lit and serve as a symbol of resilience and response to the crimes committed against the Kurdish people in various places.

Both intellectuals called for strong participation in this year’s Newroz events to affirm that the Kurdish cause and its national symbols cannot be undermined, nor can Kurdish political and cultural rights be denied. They also stressed the importance of showing the Kurdish people’s love for life and peace.

They concluded that Newroz is more than a traditional holiday; it is an occasion that embodies the meanings of freedom, renewal, and coexistence among peoples, and a message of hope for a new beginning bringing peace and stability.

Newroz is considered one of the most important holidays for the Kurdish people. In their culture, it symbolizes renewal, freedom, and the beginning of a new year filled with hope. It is celebrated on March 21 each year with the arrival of spring and the blossoming of nature, becoming a celebration that reflects the values of life, revival, and rebirth.

ANHA