ERBIL – people of Kurdistan Region celebrated two events this year on March 8th. The Women's Day and the National Day for Traditional Clothes. The overlap of the two events comes after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Council of Ministers this year that March 8th be set for the national day for traditional clothes. On the day, people of Kurdistan, especially young women not only celebrate their day, but also the Kurdish clothes day.
But the celebrations of the traditional costumes seemed to overwhelm the Women's Day as thousands of government employees headed to work on the day wearing their traditional Kurdish clothes. The Kurtak u Sharwal, or Rank u Chokhal worn by men, and the Krasi Kurdi for women were all over the country.
Of course the happiest of all groups in Kurdistan were the students, especially high school students who have to wear uniforms on normal school days. According to the KRG instructions, the wearing of traditional clothes will be celebrated for three days 8-10 March. This allows students to go to school in their traditional costumes for three days. One student who wore his traditional Kurdish clothes and was going to school told AKnews that the period for the celebration of the traditional clothes should not be restricted to three days. He said the days should be increased to allow them wear their Kurdish costumes more often.
Rooms and halls of schools and universities were full of bright colors with students who clearly said yes to wearing traditional clothing from not just Kurdish culture but also that of Turkmen and Chaldea-Assyrians groups.
Students at Salahaddin University posed for group photos in the sunshine today before heading off for a two-week holiday for Nawroz.
The national day for traditional clothes has created a hot market, especially for Kurdish tailors.
Every year, demand for Kurdish costumes increases during March when the region welcomes spring and the Nawroz celebrations.
But this year, with the government decision to mark traditional clothes on March 8 - 10, has really sparked demand.
"We would normally receive three or four people a day who come to have their Kurdish clothes made. But now we get an average of seven or eight people per day," says Ismael Sabah, a tailor in Erbil's Qaisari market tells AKnews.
Also, adds the tailor, before last year only older customers, over the age of 30, were interested but now younger generations are flocking to tailors for their Kurdish costumes.
Like many his age, Hemn is now full of excitement over Kurdish clothes.
"This is a great source of joy for us. The period should be increased and not restricted to just three days," he says.
Every year, demand for Kurdish costumes increases during March when the region welcomes spring and the Nawroz celebrations.
But this year, with the government decision to mark traditional clothes on March 8 - 10, has really sparked demand.
"We would normally receive three or four people a day who come to have their Kurdish clothes made. But now we get an average of seven or eight people per day," says Ismael Sabah, a tailor in Erbil's Qaisari market tells AKnews.
Also, adds the tailor, before last year only older customers, over the age of 30, were interested but now younger generations are flocking to tailors for their Kurdish costumes.
Like many his age, Hemn is now full of excitement over Kurdish clothes.
"This is a great source of joy for us. The period should be increased and not restricted to just three days," he says.
The Photos Below Have Been Taken From XENDAN (www.xendan.org)To Whom The Copyright Belongs.
A Classroom with pupils all wearing traditional Kurdish clothes (Xendan)
Young Kurdish school girls all dressed up in Kurdish costumes, Duhok city (Xendan)
Government employees wearing traditional Kurdish costumes (Xendan)
Government employees wearing traditional Kurdish costumes (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
Students of Hawler High School for Girls, Erbil City, organized a
Kurdish Clothes Show to mark Women's Day and Traditional Dress Day (Xendan)
