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DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - More than 30,000 members of a large Kurdish clan gathered in the countryside of northern Duhok province's Batifa sub-district for an annual picnic to boost tribal ties and keep their traditional culture alive.
For the past four years, Gulliyan, one of the largest Kurdish clans in Duhok province, has put on impressive picnics. This year saw a record 30,000 attendees, according to organizers.
There is a long history of spring picnics in the Kurdistan Region. The picnics are large family gatherings with a feast of Kurdish cuisine on a sunny day.
Dilbrin Abdullah, a Kurdish man who has been living in Sweden for 15 years, reunited with his family for the picnic. He said he hasn't had Kurdish food in a long time.
"I'm very pleased to have come back here with my wife and kids after a long time to see and visit my mother and the rest of the family at this picnic," Abdullah told Rudaw's Nayef Ramadan on Friday.
The Gulliyan clan is a large Kurdish tribe in Duhok province that consists of 60 villages around Batifa.
"The large picnics in this area are very important especially for us, as the current generation, because in the past our parents knew their relatives and were more social together. But the youth now barely see each other since we are more connected on social media than we are in real life," said student Dunya Ramadhan.
"Organizing such large picnics is significantly important. Through them, we connect again and know more about everyone's lives and how they have been doing," added Ramadhan.
After eating their fill, picnickers continue the party with traditional Kurdish dance, music, and games.
"The activities that are done in this picnic including gatherings, dancing, and the music are all part of the culture and folklore of this area of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," said Khurshid Faraj, one of the organizers.
Tribal gatherings in the spring have become a common occurrence in the Kurdistan Region.
Less than three weeks ago, a similar gathering took place in Zakho where more than 2,000 individuals from the town took part in a grand gathering, enjoying their time with Kurdish dancing and then eating traditional dishes.
Tribal ties remain very important in the Kurdistan Region, particularly in Duhok province.
For the past four years, Gulliyan, one of the largest Kurdish clans in Duhok province, has put on impressive picnics. This year saw a record 30,000 attendees, according to organizers.
There is a long history of spring picnics in the Kurdistan Region. The picnics are large family gatherings with a feast of Kurdish cuisine on a sunny day.
Dilbrin Abdullah, a Kurdish man who has been living in Sweden for 15 years, reunited with his family for the picnic. He said he hasn't had Kurdish food in a long time.
"I'm very pleased to have come back here with my wife and kids after a long time to see and visit my mother and the rest of the family at this picnic," Abdullah told Rudaw's Nayef Ramadan on Friday.
The Gulliyan clan is a large Kurdish tribe in Duhok province that consists of 60 villages around Batifa.
"The large picnics in this area are very important especially for us, as the current generation, because in the past our parents knew their relatives and were more social together. But the youth now barely see each other since we are more connected on social media than we are in real life," said student Dunya Ramadhan.
"Organizing such large picnics is significantly important. Through them, we connect again and know more about everyone's lives and how they have been doing," added Ramadhan.
After eating their fill, picnickers continue the party with traditional Kurdish dance, music, and games.
"The activities that are done in this picnic including gatherings, dancing, and the music are all part of the culture and folklore of this area of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," said Khurshid Faraj, one of the organizers.
Tribal gatherings in the spring have become a common occurrence in the Kurdistan Region.
Less than three weeks ago, a similar gathering took place in Zakho where more than 2,000 individuals from the town took part in a grand gathering, enjoying their time with Kurdish dancing and then eating traditional dishes.
Tribal ties remain very important in the Kurdistan Region, particularly in Duhok province.
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