The town of Akre in Duhok province, considered the capital of Newroz, lit up on Wednesday evening as fireworks filled its skies and tens of thousands of people flocked to the area to celebrate Newroz - the Kurdish New Year. 

Despite the cold, windy, and rainy weather, over 75,000 people and representatives of 40 countries gathered in the town to celebrate this year’s Newroz festival, with the presence of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. 

Before the start of the festival, the supervisor of the event said that 350 torches had been prepared and the young people carrying them came from the Kurdistan Region as well as Kurdish areas of Iran, Syria, and Turkey. 

“Nowhere in this world has this occasion been celebrated like Akre, that’s why we came here today so that in the coming years, Akre will become the center of celebrating Newroz in the Kurdistan Region and the world,” Prime Minister Barzani said in the town. 

Alongside the fireworks, a huge Kurdistan flag draped from atop the heights of Akre.

Kurds from all over the Kurdistan Region traditionally gather in the town of Akre to commence the ages-long tradition of lighting fires to welcome the New Year on the first day of spring.