Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Arts
  • Cinema
  • Music
  • Events
  • Portrait
  • Reviews
  • Performing Arts

Iraq’s Babylon Fest returns after 18-year hiatus 

by Anadolu Agency

BAGHDAD Oct 29, 2021 - 10:38 am GMT+3
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Babylon International Festival, at the archaeological site of ancient Babylon, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Oct. 28, 2021. (AFP)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Babylon International Festival, at the archaeological site of ancient Babylon, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Oct. 28, 2021. (AFP)
by Anadolu Agency Oct 29, 2021 10:38 am

After an 18-year hiatus, impressive dances, songs and performances greeted people once again in Iraq with the Babylon International Festival on Thursday.

The opening ceremony of the five-day festival was held in Babylon, which was once the capital of Babylonia, a state in ancient Mesopotamia. It included a speech by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, the festival's official sponsor, followed by a speech by the governor of Babylon delivered by the festival's president.

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Babylon International Festival, at the archaeological site of ancient Babylon, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Oct. 28, 2021. (AFP)
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Babylon International Festival, at the archaeological site of ancient Babylon, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Oct. 28, 2021. (AFP)

The festival will feature many activities and events, including music, dancing, folk arts and singing.

In a statement, the Iraqi Culture Ministry said representatives of 54 countries including Russia, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Egypt, Syria and Kuwait will take part in the festival.

Babylon, whose ruins are in modern Iraq, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A local actor rides a horse during the opening ceremony of the Babylon International Festival in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq, Oct. 28, 2021. (REUTERS)
A local actor rides a horse during the opening ceremony of the Babylon International Festival in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq, Oct. 28, 2021. (REUTERS)

The ancient city, whose history dates back to about 4,000 years, is famous for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as well as the Hammurabi Obelisk and the Lion of Babylon.

The Babylon International Festival, which was first held in 1985, was stopped after 2003 due to the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the deterioration of the security situation in the ensuing years.

  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    events babylon international festival music babylon iraq
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Percival Lugue, who has the Guinness world record for the largest fast-food toy collection, poses with his toy collection in his home in Apalit, Pampanga province, Philippines, April 20, 2021. (REUTERS Photo)

    Filipino man collects record 200,000 toys from fast-food chains

    TOY-MANIA
    Parts of the newly completed last section of the Northern Marmara Motorway, Istanbul, Turkey, May 19, 2021. (DHA Photo)

    Turkey raises speed limits on highways starting from July

    SPEED-LIMIT

    Türkiye's 1st domestic heavy-class attack helicopter starts engine

    heavy-class-attack-helicopter

    Istanbul's consulate chronicles: Sudhi Choudhary, Consul General of India

    SUDHI-CHOUDHARY
    No Image
    Ukraine flaunts demolished Russian tanks in Kyiv
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021