Soldiers participate in Kurdish Newroz celebrations.

Photo By Daniel Nelson | A Kurdish woman "pinky dances" in traditional garments to celebrate Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, in Saidka, Iraq, March 21.  

MOSUL, IRAQ

03.26.2009

Story by Spc. Daniel Nelson 

145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

MOSUL, Iraq – Soldiers from the Command Post-North team, Task Force Lightning, were invited to take part in the celebrations of Newroz (new day), which marks the turn of the Kurdish New Year and the first day of spring.

Newroz is observed by Kurdish people from March 20 through March 25 celebrating to mark the liberation from the tyrant King Zuhak, 2,709 years ago.

The provincial governor of Erbil, Iraq, Gov. Nawzad Hadi Mawlood, along with the proud people of the city, hosted the CP-North team for their celebration on March 20. The crowd cheered when the Soldiers arrived, welcoming them to the event, showing their appreciation for what they have done for Iraq.

There as a guest of honor was Brig. Gen. Robert Brown, the Multi-National Division - North Deputy Commanding General, 25th Infantry Division, and approximately 20 other Soldiers from the 25th Inf. Div.

The festival was held in a city park where Kurdish songs were sung and time-honored dances were performed for the crowd. The park was filled with Kurdish men wearing customary head pieces and baggy pants, while the women wore brightly colored sequined dresses.

Following the performances, Brown took part in the ceremonial lighting of a bonfire. The fire comes from the Kurdish story of Newroz where villagers made bonfires on the mountaintops to let people know of a successful revolt to overthrow King Zuhak.

Kurdish people still today make bonfires on hillsides and mountaintops to symbolize new beginnings. They use this day as the first calendar date of a New Year.

"It was an incredible honor to light a torch that symbolizes freedom," said Brown.

"They concentrate more on the aspect of freedom than just as a new year," added Brown. "It's almost like New Years and the 4th of July combined for us."

The Soldiers were taken to a Kurdish restaurant following the festival in the park where they were treated to a banquet with Gov. Hady.

A second group of approximately 20 Soldiers accompanied Brown and met with Gov. Tamar Ramazan Kuchar, the provincial governor of Dohuk, Iraq, to celebrate Newroz on March 21 throughout villages in the Dohuk region.

Celebration for Newroz took place in the countryside of Baktma, which is a village just outside of Dohuk. There, the Soldiers were welcomed to the event and took part in the traditional "pinky dancing" with the Kurdish locals.

"Their customs were a little different from what we're used to," said Sfc. Kyle J. Swope, operations non-commissioned officer in charge and Command Post-North platoon sergeant, 25th Inf. Div., "but it's always nice to see customs and traditions from other countries and be a part of it."

Following the festivities in Baktma, Gov. Tamar took Brown and the other Soldiers to Saidka, the governor's home village. A Kurdish feast was prepared there for the Soldiers for lunch.

"They made us feel welcome. The people were excited to see us and were happy to celebrate with us," added Swope.

Both men and women from the area wore traditional garments and danced to some customary music being played using bezeks, Kurdish horns, and duhouls, Kurdish drums.

"It instills a sense of pride and mission accomplishment for American Soldiers that were able to witness this," said Swope. "It shows that all the hard work and sacrifices that Soldiers made are coming to fruition with freedom for Iraq."

• Date Taken: 03.26.2009
• Date Posted: 04.01.2009 11:16
• Story ID: 31862
• Location: MOSUL, IQ