Celebrating Persian New Year at Noruz spring festival
The Persian New Year is an ancient Zoroastrian tradition celebrated by Iranians and Kurds which coincides with the vernal (spring) equinox and is calculated by the solar calendar.
- The Kurdish and Iraqi flag sway in the wind as a bonfire burns during the Noruz spring festival celebrations in the northern city of Kirkuk, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) north of Baghdad on March 20, 2017. (MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds stand around a fire in the Kurdish town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017, as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds watch as fireworks light the sky in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 during the Noruz spring festival celebrations. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain, draped in a large Kurdish flag, in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- A picture taken on March 20, 2017 shows a general view of the Kurdish town of Akra , 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 during the Noruz spring festival celebrations. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds walks through the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds play music as they walk through the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds walks through the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurdish women dressed in traditional clothing pose for pictures in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurdish women take pictures of the Noruz celebrations as it passes under their house in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Iraqi Kurdish woman watches Noruz celebrations in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds watch as Noruz celebrations pass under their house in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds pose for a picture during Noruz celebrations in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds dressed in traditional clothing dance in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)
- Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain in the town of Akra, 500 km north of Baghdad, on March 20, 2017 as they celebrate the Noruz spring festival. (SAFIN HAMED/AFP/Getty Images)