On the evening of Thursday, 13 April 2023, the activities of the Syriac Heritage Festival in its third session, organized by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts, were concluded in the Darka region, in Ankawa / Erbil, for the period 11-13 April.
The last day began with a lyrical operetta titled (Bahra Al Yertothin), followed by folklore dance performances by groups coming from different countries to participate in the festival, the (Ishtar) band coming from Russia, the (Barmaya) band from Beth Zalin from Syria, the (Ator) band coming From Armenia, in addition to the (Syriac Arts) Ensemble of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts.
The closing ceremony of the festival included singing bouquets in which a number of our people’s artists participated (Ninos Edwar, Fouad Zamara, Tony Kabriel, Ashur Daoud, Madeleine Esho), in addition to the segment (Zorna and Dahola), which witnessed the active participation of the audience present in the performance of folklore dances.
The ceremony also witnessed an artistic carnival inspired by the heritage of the Mesopotamian civilization presented by the Iraqi Fashion House of the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, which added to the festival a folkloric character mixed with modernity and simulates the depth of the Mesopotamian civilizations of Babylon, Assyria and Nineveh.
The Director General of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts, Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, delivered his speech in which he affirmed that “this festival has become an annual tradition that is held in Ankawa, which will always remain a destination for all our people in the homeland and abroad,” stressing that the Directorate is fully prepared to cooperate with all government departments and organizations Civil society and esteemed churches to provide the best for our people.
Oghanna praised everyone who supported and extended a helping hand for the success of this festival, and gave his sincere thanks to the Presidency and the Kurdistan Regional Government for their role in supporting such events. He also valued the role of the Chaldean Diocese of Erbil, the Assyrian Church of the East and all governmental, service and community agencies that contributed to the success of this work.
At the end of the ceremony, honorary shields were distributed to the parties that supported, supported and sponsored the establishment of this annual festival in Ankawa.
It is worth noting that the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts of the Kurdistan Regional Government organized the Syriac Heritage Festival for the period from (11-13) April 2023 with various activities, in addition to the activity of the heritage bazaar, which was open throughout the days of the festival.
