Nevruz and the Kurdish peace

• Photographer
  Simone Tramonte, Italy
• Studio
  Freelance
• Website
  http://

On the first day of Spring, Kurds celebrate the Newroz, their New
Year’s day. The festival is very important for Kurdish identity, still
neglected by many countries among which Kurdistan has historically
been divided. Newroz means both “new day” and “son of the sun”, and
its celebration dates back to 21st March 612 B.C, when Kawa, along
with people’s solidarity defeated the Assyrian tyrant Dehak, setting the
Kurds free from the oppression and proclaiming freedom throughout
the land. His defeat represented the success of modern rationality and
civilized prosperity above cruelty, abuse, injustice and enslavement.
Newroz is then a genuine celebration of freedom and peace.
Kawa ordered that a huge fire was lit on the mountain to send a
message to thank God and to tell people they were free. From then
on, this fire is lit every 21st of March, also in Testaccio, the very heart
of Rome, at the Ararat centre. Here Kurds from all Italy gathers
around the big fire lighted up with all the rubbish from the past, and
they dance and sing around the fire along the night.
This year, the Newroz fire burn brighter than ever, as it comes after
the historic victory of Kobane, set free by the courageous men and
women that fought for freedom. As in the ancient time of Kawa,
Newroz represents light over darkness, freedom over oppression,
peace over war. It is a festival of all the Kurdish population and their
legitimate aspirations for freedom.

Born in Rome in 1976, where he lives and works.
Since 2007 is part of "Officine Fotografiche" photo roman association that acts as a training center for photographers of all levels, where he was, and continues to attend courses, seminars and workshops to professional level.
In 2009 participated in a workshop organized by the city of Palermo Mother India School a center for photography, created and directed by Shobha Battaglia photographer for the Contrasto.
Some of his works have been reports recently published in National Geographic, Lonely Planet and The Trip Magazine.