Nashville’s Kurdish community celebrates Newroz with thousands attending the first new year event since the pandemic began

On Sunday morning, thousands gathered at the Ward Agriculture Center in Lebanon to celebrate Newroz, marking the new year. It was the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council’s first celebration since the pandemic began. This Is Nashville host Khalil Ekulona spoke with a panel of community members, including one of the festival organizers, about the holiday’s significance and traditions.

The festival has become so big it had to relocate to the agricultural center from Edwin Warner Park. Word has gotten around across the country that Nashville is the place for Kurds to celebrate Newroz.

Steve Haruch, WPLN

Tabeer Sindi, president of the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council

Steve Haruch, WPLN

Nashville mayor John Cooper

Among those featured in the main program were Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake, Deputy Counsel Erin Merrick from Gov. Bill Lee’s office, Tennessee Titans Vice President Adolpho Birch and Mayor John Cooper, who announced that he had signed a declaration making March Kurdish Heritage Month in Nashville.

“Let’s start that celebration, because you’re showing the love of community, and I’m grateful for it being part of this community,” Cooper said. “Your entrepreneurial spirit, your civic mindedness is making a great Nashville, and thank you for being part of what makes Nashville and our region great.”

“We actually recently got a Kurdish store open here in Nashville that sells all types of different fabrics,” one attendee said “which is really nice and kind of brings you closer to home because now we have access to that before we’d have to send back home and have family send it to us.”