News Center – The festivals held in Eastern Kurdistan are a living memory reflecting the cultural, religious, and historical heritage of one of the world's oldest civilizations. These festivals clearly embody the depth of the rooted culture of the peoples of Mesopotamia, the philosophy of harmonious living with nature, and the richness of Kurdish folklore.

In this context, the "Hazar Daf" (Thousand Dafs) festival is celebrated annually as a magnificent and colorful festival that brings the community together around the ancient Kurdish musical heritage. It highlights the historical and cultural status of the daf (frame drum) in Kurdish music, and features artists, women, and youth performing in a natural and spontaneous way that expresses their artistic spirit.

The festival is organized through the collective effort of the region's people, where preparatory committees work to gather young people skilled in playing the daf. One of the most prominent rituals of the celebration is lighting fires on mountain peaks, where young men and women stay awake around them for three days and three nights to keep them burning. On the third day, participants begin descending from the mountains toward the villages to the rhythm of dafs.

Although some circles describe this event as just a festival, for the Kurdish people this celebration is more than an artistic event; it is a cultural and spiritual holiday that reflects humanity's relationship with nature, embodies the spirit of community solidarity, and welcomes spring. The "Hazar Daf" festival carries intellectual and spiritual depth and establishes a strong connection between culture, environment, art, and society.

The rooftops and courtyards of houses in the villages of the Horaman region – built in terraced form rising above one another – are opened to daf players. In these gatherings, extending from mountain slopes to deep valleys, echoing rhythms blend with bright traditional costumes, giving the reception of spring a magnificent meaning.

In the heart of the Zagros Mountains, to the beat of thousands of dafs harmonizing with the sound of the Sirwan River, these celebrations are held as a tribute to the majesty of spring. The village of "Palangan" in the Horaman region is notable.

During the months of March and April, celebrations spread, starting with Nowruz, covering a wide geographical area.

The village of Palangan, through its "Hazar Daf" celebrations, reflects the region's ancient past, including ancient fire temples, historical bridges, old fortresses, and tombstones inscribed with Kufic script. These landmarks bear traces of multiple historical periods extending back to the Median era.

The "Hazar Daf" celebration carries deep meaning for the Kurdish people. In the past, a daf that broke during performance was called a "martyr" (shahid), indicating the great value given to this instrument. As a sign of this respect, it was not allowed to touch the daf without physical purity. Today, almost every home in the village of Palangan has at least one daf, and many residents are skilled at playing it.

In recent years, the festival has come to receive thousands of visitors. Every participant in this celebration is seen as part of this shared cultural experience.