Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Newroz 2010 in Sulaymania


Newroz is over. Unfortenately my pictures are late (but better late than never?)

Here in Sulaymania the main event during Newroz was big meeting in Sulaymania down town on 20th March evening where the main street had been turned to a walking street.

It was so different like the newroz days which I have spent in Turkey! It was more like the new year eve in Helsinki. Actually this is a good comparison. Newroz is Kurdish new year. It is not a political celebration any more as this country is liberated from Saddam's rule. New year is neither in Finland a political day, people celebrate the coming year, not demand their rights.

I hope also in Turkey Kurds can soon celebrate Newroz in this normal way!

3 comments:

Early Light said...

So am I to understand this is just good, clean, non-violent, apolitical fun? That's refreshing! Hope that will spread. :)

Kristiina Koivunen said...

Thanks for Your comments. In Turkey Kurds see Newroz mainly as a political occasion. But originally (during the Ottoman times, until 1923) it was Kurdish new year without political meanings. Like the new year for every nation.

Early Light said...

So the political aspect of it is because it is Kurdish, and the Kurds are a somewhat oppressed minority; as that oppression changes, the holiday will evolve back to being fun? Cool! :)