Shafaq News/Tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds gathered across northeastern Syria on Fridayto celebrate Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year, marking the first large-scalefestivities since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Kurdishcities witnessed unprecedented festivities as crowds lit the Nowruz fire—asymbolic act being openly performed for the first time since the regime’scollapse late last year.
Thecelebrations extended beyond Kurdish-majority regions such as Al-Jazira,Kobani, and Afrin, reaching Damascus, Aleppo, and even parts of Syria’s coastalareas.
Majorgatherings also took place in Qamishli, Hasakah, and Derik, where thousandsformed circles around the Nowruz fire, dancing to traditional Kurdish music. Localsin Sweida and coastal cities also ignited Nowruz flames, standing with theKurds in celebration.
For manyrevelers, this Nowruz carried a profound sense of change. “After years ofrestrictions under Assad’s regime, we are witnessing mass participation for thefirst time. This Nowruz represents hope for a new Syria,” said Kawa Mahmoud, afestivalgoer in Qamishli’s countryside.
Mahmoudnoted that Syrian Kurds are eager to turn the page on decades of Baathist ruleand move toward greater freedoms. He added that recent political agreementsbetween Kurdish factions and an evolving relationship between the SyrianDemocratic Forces and Damascus have fueled optimism.
RaniaKhalil, who fled Afrin, expressed hope that this year’s celebrations would markthe start of a return for those forced from their lands. “After years ofdisplacement and hardship, we just want to go back and live in peace,” shesaid.
She alsohighlighted the cultural depth of Nowruz, noting that while the celebrationsshare common traditions across Kurdistan, each region has its own distinctcustoms. “For us, the joy of Nowruz is incomplete without celebrating it inAfrin,” she told Shafaq News.