Mawlid celebrations held across Duhok with public programs and street offerings

DUHOK, Iraq — Communities across the city of Duhok and its surrounding districts and villages marked Mawlid al-Nabi on Wednesday with large public gatherings, as mosques held special programs featuring sermons, devotional songs and talks on the life and moral teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. In the city center, shops around the Grand Mosque distributed sweets, food and drinks to passersby, with local merchants and residents joining in the offerings. The Amadiya district saw similar activity, as crowds filled its markets and streets and restaurant and shop owners served sweets and beverages free of charge. Residents said the celebrations have become an annual tradition in the city, drawing participants of all ages. Those attending also emphasized the occasion as a time to extend help to the poor and those in need, with children handing out sweets in the streets serving as one of the most visible symbols of the event.