Kurdish 'Shal and Shepik' festival enters second day in Zakho with traditional dances

ZAHO, Iraq — The fourth edition of the "Shal and Shepik" cultural festival continued into its second day in Zakho, in northern Iraq, with participants performing traditional Kurdish folk dances in regional attire. The event opened a day earlier with the attendance of Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani alongside official delegations, artists and researchers from inside and outside the Kurdistan Region, according to the organizing committee. Committee member Shexwan Abdi said the festival is scheduled to run for two days, on June 10 and 11. The opening featured speeches alongside Kurdish folk music and dance performances showcasing the traditions of the region. Organizers said the festival aims to promote traditional Kurdish clothing and preserve the cultural heritage associated with it. The shal and shepik are widely worn by Kurdish communities as symbols of pride during social and national occasions. The committee did not provide further details on closing events planned for the second day.