Duhok, Iraq - April 01, 2025 Thousands attend Assyrian new year parade in Duhok, northern Iraq SHOTLIST: DUHOK, IRAQ (APRIL 1, 2025) (ANADOLU – ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF PEOPLE, MANY WEARING TRADITIONAL CLOTHES, PARADING, SINGING SONGS 2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE, PARADING, SINGING SONGS AND DANCING, SOME CARRYING ASSYRIAN FLAGS 3. SCOUTS PARADING, PLAYING INSTRUMENTS 4. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF PEOPLE, PARADING, SINGING SONGS DUHOK, IRAQ - APRIL 1: Thousands of members of the Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac communities took to the streets of Duhok in northern Iraq on Tuesday, Apr.1, to celebrate Akitu, the ancient Mesopotamian New Year festival marking the arrival of spring and the rebirth of nature. Dressed in vibrant traditional attire dating back over 6,000 years, participants paraded through the city, showcasing Iraq’s rich multicultural heritage. The festival, which corresponds to the start of the Assyrian calendar (year 6775), was celebrated with music, dancing, and cultural performances. The Akitu Festival, traditionally observed over twelve days, is one of the oldest recorded New Year celebrations in human history, with roots tracing back to ancient Mesopotamia around 2000 BCE. Historically, it was celebrated by Babylonians, Assyrians, Akkadians, and other Mesopotamian civilizations to honor the spring planting season and the triumph of order over chaos.