Students, teachers and families gather at a school in Sulaymaniyah to celebrate Shab-e-Barat, known in Kurdish as Şewî Barat, as children clap, carry Kurdistan flags and take part in festivities marking the occasion. Photo by 964media.
Barat Night brings candy, prayers to Kurdistan Region streets
SULAYMANIYAH — A festive and spiritual atmosphere spread across Sulaymaniyah and other parts of the Kurdistan Region on Monday night as residents observed Shab-e-Barat, known in Kurdish as Şewî Barat, or Barat Night, a religious and cultural occasion held on the 15th day of the Hijri month of Shaaban.
Children filled neighborhoods collecting candy, nuts and small amounts of money, while adults offered prayers and expressed hopes of reaching the holy month of Ramadan. In Sulaymaniyah, a group of mountaineers distributed candy and nuts to children, creating what participants described as a joyful and faith-filled atmosphere. A member of the group told 964media, “Barat is a special night, and we wanted to make children happy.”
A young child holding a bag of candy said, “Barat Night means children’s happiness and then delicious nuts.” According to local tradition, Shab-e-Barat comes 15 days before Ramadan. Many Muslims fast the following day and prepare special meals for the evening, while sharing candy with children and offering prayers for blessings.
Artist and writer Omar Karim Agha joined children during the celebrations, choosing to distribute notebooks and pens instead of candy or money. He told 964media, “Barat is a Kurdish celebration, and I have taken part in Barat Night since I was six years old.” He added, “Instead of sweets and money, I give notebooks and pens to schoolchildren, because sweets may harm their teeth and money may make them materialistic.” He described Sulaymaniyah as “a city of enlightenment and Kurdish identity,” adding, “I hope Barat Night becomes a night of joy and happiness, and that all sorrow fades away.”
In several neighborhoods, families stood outside their homes with baskets of candy and children’s toys, welcoming visiting children and guests. Masouma Ahmed, a 76-year-old resident of Sulaymaniyah, recalled earlier celebrations. “We used to sit with our neighbors late into the night drinking tea and eating sweets and having pleasant conversations, but, without ingratitude, neighborly relations are no longer like they were,” she said. Recalling her childhood, she added, “We used to knock on doors and say, ‘Tonight is Barat Night, may God grant you sons and daughters,’ and they would come out and give us something. If they had nothing, they would still give us a smile.”
Her daughter, Parween Abdulaziz, said the family distributed seven kinds of candy and nuts this year, adding that “the difference now is that people go out as families on Barat Night to visit others.”
In parts of Sulaymaniyah, the night also featured book distribution. Researcher Azad Jalal told 964media that his group prints 100,000 books and distributed thousands to children on Shab-e-Barat. “The content of our books teaches children moral values and healthy upbringing,” he said.
Schools also marked the occasion. Taha Abdulkarim, principal of Malkandi Primary School, said teachers organized a special celebration for students. “We wanted to organize the night in a different way so students feel that we, as teachers, share their joy and sorrow,” he said, adding that teachers covered all preparations and candy.
In the Tuy Malik neighborhood of Sulaymaniyah, the Qaradagh Art Institute orchestra performed songs dedicated to Barat Night, drawing residents into the streets. Similar scenes were reported in Erbil, where a children’s rights organization gathered large numbers of children and distributed candy and nuts. Rozhin Gharib, supervisor of the Wazi organization, told 964media, “It is very special and joyful for me to see children smiling and happy. This is our first activity of this kind, but it will continue.”
In Sharazoor district of Sulaymaniyah governorate, children spread through neighborhoods collecting candy, with one child saying, “We shouldn’t eat too much so our teeth don’t get damaged.” Bakeries and shops offered free gifts, attracting hundreds of children.
The celebrations were largely peaceful, though one incident was reported in Sharazoor when an 8-year-old boy was struck by a car while collecting candy and was seriously injured. Sahand Siamand, a doctor at Shahid Raouf General Hospital, told 964media, “A short while ago, a child was brought to our emergency department. The child is an 8-year-old boy with a fractured leg and serious injuries. After necessary treatment, he was transferred to Sulaymaniyah Hospital.” He added, “The family has filed a legal complaint because the driver fled the scene.”
In Khurmal district of Halabja governorate, families prepared special tables with traditional desserts, while religious teacher Abdulmalik Sargati said, “The blessing of Barat Night lies in it being a divine gift to the Prophet,” adding, “God shows mercy to those who show mercy on earth.” Children in Khurmal roamed neighborhoods carrying Kurdistan flags, collecting candy and money.