NEWS CENTER - The fire of Newroz, which is the symbol of resistance and resurrection for the people of Mesopotamia, has never gone out from Hammersmith Kawa to Mazlum Doğan.
With the arrival of March, people are preparing to celebrate Newroz. Newroz, which expresses awakening and resurrection with the arrival of spring, has been celebrated with various meanings by many people from Mesopotamia to the Middle East and Central Asia for thousands of years. Newroz, known as the oldest holiday in history, dates back to ancient Nineveh, which was the capital of the Babylonian and Assyrian Kingdoms and has a tradition dating back thousands of years. Newroz, which falls on March 21, when day and night are equal, was recorded for the first time with the Persians. In 2009, it was added to the World Spiritual Cultural Heritage list by the United Nations (UN), and in 2010, upon the request of Afghanistan, Albania, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Turkey, March 21 was officially accepted as "International Newroz Day" by the United Nations. Zoroastrians, Alevis and Baha'is also attribute holiness to Newroz, which had a political spirit in the Assyrian period. While some Alevis accept Newroz as the birthday of Hazrat Ali, it stands out with its expression of resistance and struggle by many peoples.
According to the Newroz legend written in Firdevsi's work titled Shahname, the cruelty of the ruler named Jamshid, who ruled for 700 years, against the people ended with the trouble of Dehaq, who was also a tyrant like himself. Dehaq, who is the projection of Azhi Dahaka, who is depicted as a "Satanic" being in the Avesta, tries to live by feeding the brain of a young man every day to the snakes that grow on his shoulders. The people, who have been subjected to this oppression for years, organized under the leadership of Hammersmith Kawa and put an end to Dehaq's oppression. The big fires and celebrations started to be celebrated in 612 BC, on March 21, when the Medes, who were the heirs of the Kurds, defeated Dehaq. Since that day, while there have been Geniuses, Nimrods and Pharaohs in the Middle East and human history, the fire of resistance has never been missing either.
KURDS AND NEWROZ
Newroz, which is considered important by many people, means resistance and rebellion against cruelty and oppression for the Kurds. The Newroz fire lit by the Kurds was banned in Turkey for years and celebrations were tried to be suppressed with violence. With the establishment of the Republic, everything related to Kurdish culture was banned, and Newroz was also banned. With an official decree in 1924, the Eastern Reform Plan in 1925, and the "Settlement Law" in 1934, Kurds were banned from everything from Kurdish village names to Kurdish clothing and colors. But despite these bans, the Kurds never gave up on Newroz. Newroz, which is also associated with the birth of Hz. Ali, coincides with the period when the first fire of rebellion of the Dersim resistance was lit. In 1937, in the rebellion led by Seyit Rıza in the Dersim region, the Kahmut Bridge, which represented the oppressive face of the state, was burned on March 21, and the Dersim resistance began.
FROM HAMMERSMITH KAWA TO MAZLUM DOĞAN: RESISTANCE CONTINUES
On the other hand, there was never a shortage of "Contemporary Kawas" against "Contemporary Geniuses". During the military coup of September 12, 1980, thousands of Kurds were subjected to severe torture and inhumane practices in Diyarbakır Prison. Many people lost their lives during these tortures. However, Mazlum Doğan, defined as the "Modern Kawas" of the age, gave Newroz the spirit of the new era with the three matchsticks he lit on March 21, 1982 against Turkification and torture. The fire that Doğan lit became hope for the Kurds once again. Zekiye Alkan in 1990, Rahşan Demirel in 1992, Ronahi and Berivan in 1994 increased the resistance by setting their bodies on fire against the oppression.
'NATIONALIZATION' WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL
Newroz, which began to be celebrated massively in the 1990s, also brought about an increase in state violence. Dozens of people lost their lives in the attack of law enforcement forces during the Newroz celebrations, which took place under the shadow of the bans. In 1991, thousands of people from many provinces of Kurdistan and Turkey attended Newroz celebrations. 31 people were killed in the attacks on the celebrations. Again, in the 1992 Cizîr Newroz attacks, according to official records, 57 people were killed, and according to the accounts of witnesses, this number exceeded 100. Unable to break the resistance of the people with attacks, the state this time declared Newroz as a "Turkish holiday" and named it "Nevruz". However, "Nevruz", which was first tried to be celebrated by the state officials in 1996, did not attract the attention of the people, and "Nevruz", which was celebrated by the state in recent years, has become uncelebrated.
HOW DO PEOPLE CELEBRATE NEWROZ?
Combining its mythological aspect with a political aspect, Newroz turned into a living myth as the resistance and rebirth of the peoples. Especially in Mesopotamia, the Newroz myth has been told orally by old sages, dengbej, for thousands of years, and is passed on to future generations through this tradition. People in different parts of the world celebrate Newroz as follows:
Azerbaijan: During Newroz, Azerbaijani artists participate in festivals with their instruments and give concerts of original Azerbaijani folk songs. Drinking water from fountains to ensure that the whole year is fruitful is an important Newroz tradition for Azerbaijanis. During Newroz celebrations, guests are also offered a drink called "Semenu" made by Azerbaijani women.
Afghanistan: Afghans welcome the arrival of spring by first visiting "Mazar-i Sharif" and then organize a holiday ceremony filled with red roses. The holiday ceremony, which starts with the carrying of the flag, continues for 20 minutes. On this holiday night, when the turkeys are slaughtered, various drinks are also served. White meat symbolizes peace and is served with green vegetables. Because green is the color of success for Afghans.
Uzbekistan: Before Newroz arrives, Uzbek women start a big spring cleaning at home. Uzbeks throw small stones into the sky to bring them to life in the new year, turning the holiday ceremonies into a festival where young men compete in various sports.
Tajikistan: Musicians playing “Koroni” invite people to Sema and celebrations. During Newroz, where traditional clothes are worn, Tajiks wear a unique type of headdress, which is similar to the traditional Kurdish headdress, the most important feature of which is "kum". During Newroz, which is celebrated with the belief that the new year represents a new life, women look like the "sultans" of the ceremonies with their headdresses. During Newroz celebrations, which feature competitions such as cock and partridge fighting, young Tajiks compete fiercely and try to win the gifts distributed at the ceremony.
Kazakhstan: According to the belief of the Kazakhs, Newroz is the symbol of spring and the abundance that will rain on the fields. It is believed that the blue Samarkand stone melts during Newroz. There is a special holiday meal called “Newroz guje”. This dish represents the end of winter. This dish, made from seven types of grains and vegetables, is served to guests. Kazakhs organize competitions in which men and women compete with their games called "Qul tuzaq". It is believed that if women win these competitions, the new year will be somewhat fruitful. If the men win, the new year will be much more fruitful, according to Kazakh belief.
Kyrgyzstan: The only country where Newroz is celebrated for two days. The first two days of spring, that is, March 21 and 22 in the Gregorian calendar, are twin Newroz for the Kyrgyz people. In Kyrgyzstan, a special holiday meal called "Beş Parmaq" is prepared for the celebrations and javelin is played.
Turkmenistan: In this country, celebrations are generally in the form of competitions. Various games such as cock and ram fighting, long run and chess are played. Turkmen women make special desserts for Newroz and serve them to everyone.
Iran: In Iran, extensive spring cleaning is carried out before Newroz. Seven different dishes are served on a large table decorated with seven trays. The names of all seven dishes begin with the letter "S". On the 13th day of the month, people go to the recreation areas to have a picnic, play games and entertain with traditional folk dances until the evening hours.
MA / Tolga Güney