holly pickett
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A celebration of identity
Newroz, or Nowruz, is an ancient holiday celebrated by a multitude of ethnic groups across the Middle East, Iran, Central Asia, and the Caucuses, and ushers in the first day of Spring--March 21. For Kurds, Newroz is a means of political and cultural expression, featuring Kurdish politicians, activists, and musicians, and has become a manifestation of Kurdish identity. In Turkey, the celebrations begin a few days before the Vernal Equinox, culminating in a huge gathering in the heart of Turkey's Kurdish population, the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. This year, PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan, who despite serving a life sentence for treason still enjoys widespread influence among Kurds, sent a letter that was read at Newroz in Diyarbakir, calling for an end to the PKK's armed struggle against the Turkish state. -
A man poses in front of a giant portrait of jailed PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) founder Abdullah Öcalan at Newroz, Kurdish New Year, in Suruç, Turkey, in the days leading up to March 21, the first day of Spring. -
Ahin, center, a 13-year-old Syrian Kurdish refugee from Kobani, Syria, sings at the Newroz celebration, in Suruç, Turkey. She wore military-style clothes to honor the YPG Kurdish militia which defended her hometown from ISIS.
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A man prepares to light the traditional Newroz fire in Suruç, Turkey. Suruç had the honor of lighting the first Newroz fire of the week, because of the battle for Kobani, Syria, won by the Kurds just across the border.
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A woman wearing a Kurdish-themed scarf with the colors green, yellow, and red, stands with friends during Newroz, in Suruç, Turkey.
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A young man stands on another's shoulders to show his enthusiasm during Newroz in Suruç, Turkey. In Turkey, modest celebrations in smaller towns the week of March 21 culminate in the biggest one in Diyarbakir on that day.
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Families sit on the grass while listening to political speeches and music during Newroz in Suruç, Turkey.
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By 4 p.m., the party is over, and the crowd thins out, leaving only the flower-crown hawkers and trash, Suruç, Turkey.
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Ali Al-Hasan, a Syrian singer from Hassakah Syria, performs at Newroz in Viranşehir, Turkey. Al-Hasan is a refugee and has been living in Turkey for the past year.
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Women dance together at Newroz in Viranşehir, Turkey.
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A woman wearing traditional Kurdish clothing and a scarf using the Kurdish colors green, yellow, and red, at Newroz in Viranşehir, Turkey.
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The chef at Viron Dürum Evi smokes a cigarette while grilling kebabs at Newroz in Viranşehir, Turkey.
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The Kurdistan flag flies over young men listening to speeches from politicians at Newroz in Viranşehir, Turkey.
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Men and boys listening from the ledge of a wall at Newroz in Viranşehir, Turkey.
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People walk around at Newroz in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on March 21, the first day of Spring.
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Spectators carry banners and flags for the PKK, YPG, and Kurdistan, Kurdish military and political movements, at Newroz in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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Smoke from the Newroz fire hangs over hundreds of thousands of people gathered for Newroz in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
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A woman pauses for a portrait before heading home at the conclusion of Newroz in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
