JINHA

ISTANBUL – The Newroz fire has been lit in Istanbul, where nearly a million people have flooded Kazlıçeşme Square to celebrate the holiday.

 People from a range of ethnic groups, beliefs and political struggles joined the celebrations. Notable guests include top representatives from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP); Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK); and Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP). The families of internationalist fighters lost defending the Rojava revolution are also present, including Nuran Agırnaslı (mother of Suphi Nejat Ağırnaslı) and Niyazi Tosun (father of Serkan Tosun).

 Photographs of famous revolutionaries in Turkey, from Abdullah Öcalan to leading PKK figure Mazlum Doğan who lit a spark of rebellion when he immolated himself in the notorious Diyarbakır Prison on Newroz 1982 to revolutionaries from across Turkey, decorated the stage. The 200-meter-long red, green and yellow banner has been passing from hand to hand around the crowd as the slogan "freedom for the leader" echoed in Kurdish over the arena.

 Colorful garb at the celebration ranged from women's traditional clothes to Kurdistan football uniforms, and many attendees' faces and hands were painted in the Kurdish colors of red, green and yellow.

 The celebration kicked off with a moment of silence for those lost in the struggle. The HDP Istanbul Provincial Co-Chairs Ayşe Erdem and Cesim Soylu lit the Newroz fire, with Newroz organizing committee chair Erkan Karabay giving the first speech, celebrating the "fire of rebellion of the peoples of Kurdistan, the Middle East and Anatolia" this Newroz.

 Ayşe Erdem was next to speak. She honored the woman fighters lost in Kobanê and called Newroz "the holiday of all peoples."

 "Now Mahir Çayan, İbrahim Kaypakkaya, Deniz Gezmiş and Mazlum Doğan are watching us from here," she said, mentioning the revolutionaries' photos hung around the arena. She said that the Newroz fire being lit today was a symbol of new hope and the shared struggle of all people that would spell victory for the HDP in the upcoming June 7 parliamentary election.

 Cesim Soylu spoke briefly in Kurdish. In a speech on behalf of patriotic Kurdish youth, youth announced they would be increasing their ability to lead the revolution by uniting youth organizations as a federated congress.

 Abdullah Öcalan's historic Newroz message, delivered at the Amed Newroz celebrations yesterday, was read again before the crowd, meeting with slogans of "long live the leader Apo." Grup Munzur gave a musical performance.

 Next in the celebration will be a speech from HDP General Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş and ongoing musical performances.

 (ekip)