HALABJA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region leaders on Friday extended congratulatory messages to the people of the Kurdish city of Diyarbakir (Amed), southeast Turkey, on the occasion of Newroz, reaffirming their commitment to Kurdish unity.

Hundreds of thousands gathered in Diyarbakir on Friday, March 21 on the occasion of Newroz and the arrival of the Kurdish New Year of 2725.

In a message read out to the attendees, former Kurdistan Region President and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani congratulated all Kurds on the occasion as well as every other ethnicity around the world celebrating the day. President Barzani expressed hope for the release of jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan “as soon as possible.”

This year’s Newroz celebrations come amid peace talks between the Turkish state and the PKK, who were called on to lay down arms and pursue political dialogue in a historic message by Ocalan in February.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also congratulated the people of the city, calling Newroz the “common grounds that has bound the peoples of this region for thousands of years.”

“Our Newroz celebration returns this year at a time when the ground and hope for peace and stability have been created... We in the Kurdistan Region, as always, show our support for peace and the success of this process" he wrote in the letter read out to the crowd on Friday.

On a yearly basis, hundreds of thousands of celebrants visit Diyarbakir, considered the capital of Greater Kurdistan, around the time for Newroz to partake in the festivities and honor the age-old traditions.

Newroz marks the New Year for many ethnic groups in the region, celebrating the start of spring and the rebirth of nature.

Kurds mark the day with igniting bonfires and gathering around them, singing anthems, and performing the traditional Halparke dance. For Kurds, Newroz symbolizes triumph over tyranny.

Massive Newroz celebrations are annually held across the different parts of Kurdistan, with the most stunning display arguably being the celebrations in Akre, known as the capital of Newroz, where thousands of young men carry torches up the mountain before a large bonfire is ignited. Over 85,000 attended the celebrations in Akre on Thursday.