Kurds in Middle Tennessee and across the country gathered at the Wilson County Fairgrounds on Sunday, March 20, 2022, to celebrate Newroz for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
Newroz (also spelled Nowruz) is the start of the Persian New Year and a celebration of spring that is held throughout the Middle East. It’s also celebrated in Middle Tennessee because Nashville is home to the largest Kurdish population in the United States.
Today’s guests share what Newroz means to them and their cultural identity as either Kurds or Afghans living in the U.S.
Also in this episode, WPLN healthcare reporter Blake Farmer talks about why hospitals are closing in Middle Tennessee.
Guests:
- Blake Farmer, WPLN healthcare reporter
- Kasar Abdulla, Kurdish immigrant and community organizer
- Hangama Wahidi, president of the Nashville Afghan Association
- Tabeer Sindi, president of the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council and organizer of its annual Newroz celebration
Additional reading and resources:
The Kurdish Institute of Brussels: Kawa and the story of Newroz
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