Yazidi New Year Festival

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Religious & SpiritualLalish/Sinjar
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe festival's defining ritual is the Baba
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: IQD
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Yazidi New Year Festival in Lalish/Sinjar

The Yazidi new year, called Charshema Sor or Red Wednesday, falls on the first Wednesday of April by the Julian calendar and marks the day tradition says Tawusi Melek first blessed the earth at Lalish. Observance centers on lamp-lighting at the Lalish temple, dyed eggs, and family visits to graves.

Yazidis mark the new year on Charshema Sor, Red Wednesday, the first Wednesday of April by the Julian calendar their community follows for religious observance, a date tradition holds is when Tawusi Melek, the Peacock Angel, first touched down at Lalish to bless the earth with renewal.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's defining ritual is the Baba Sheikh's lighting of oil lamps at Lalish, a role reserved for the Yazidi faith's senior religious authority, tying the new year directly to the community's central shrine rather than to a diffuse folk custom

02

The mystery stays covered

Its egg-dyeing tradition, in red, blue, green, and yellow, is explained within Yazidi belief as a direct reference to the rainbow that accompanied Tawusi Melek's descent to earth, giving an otherwise familiar spring practice a specific theological grounding

03

The city starts moving

The custom of women visiting cemeteries to leave gifts for returning ancestral spirits also sets it apart from neighboring Newroz and Akitu spring observances

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Dyeing eggs in red

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the Baba Sheikh's lighting of lamps at Lalish

The sacred route

Living ritual

family visits to graves with food and small gifts for the dead

The local code

Living ritual

and communal meals mark the holiday

Tradition 5

Living ritual

alongside music and dancing where circumstances allow

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Modest clothing is expected at Lalish's shrines, and shoes must be removed before entering the inner temple buildings; visitors are also asked not to step on the stone thresholds of shrine...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

IQD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map33.34 N, 44.40 EOpen in Google Maps

Lalish/Sinjar, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Nearest airportOSM — Mosul
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Lalish/Sinjar via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Lalish/Sinjar, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearModest clothing is expected at Lalish's shrines, and shoes must be removed before entering the inner temple buildings; visitors are also asked not to step on the stone thresholds of shrine doorways, a widely observed Yazidi custom.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Iraq and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yazidi New Year Festival?

Yazidi New Year Festival is listed for Past edition: 15 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yazidi New Year Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Lalish/Sinjar, Iraq. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Lalish/Sinjar, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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