The article depicts a vibrant scene during the Nowruz festival in Afrin, Syria, highlighting the resilience of the Kurdish community. Despite a dark history marked by violence and displacement due to the Syrian civil war, the community has come together to celebrate spring with joy and fervor. The correspondent reflects on the stark contrast between past horrors and present celebrations, emphasizing the importance of cultural expression and the ability to reclaim joy in the aftermath of trauma.
With their red loafers and scarves and sashaying, it's almost like these men, by linking their arms and dancing their hearts out, are able to briefly erase the horrors that happened here.
What I hope you can sense, though, is resilience. Many minority Kurds celebrated Nowruz in secret under the repressive rule of the Assad family, and fled during the war.
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