HALABJA, Kurdistan Region – The city of Halabja officially inaugurated its 11th annual Pomegranate and Autumn Festival on Thursday, transforming the city into a vibrant celebration of agricultural heritage, traditional crafts, and community pride.

The festival, which is scheduled to run for three days, has declared Thursday an official local holiday, with the remaining days falling on the weekend. Organizers are anticipating a significant turnout, expecting to exceed 300,000 visitors after 285,000 attended last year.

Under the supervision of a four-member high committee, this year's event features 650 booths dedicated to showcasing the region's finest produce and products. The festival is meticulously organized into three distinct sections: one for pomegranates and local fruits, another for women’s handicrafts, and a third highlighting traditional Kurdish cuisine.

“250 booths are dedicated to selling pomegranates and other autumn produce,” said Arsalan Abid, a member of the organizing committee, in an interview with Rudaw. A key requirement for vendors is that all products, including molasses, honey, and dried foods, must be locally sourced and produced.

The festival grounds were filled with thousands of visitors, enveloped in the aromatic blend of pomegranates, honey, and Kurdish delicacies. Rows of pomegranate stalls glowed under the autumn sun, their deep ruby hues serving as a powerful symbol of both Halabja's natural abundance and the enduring resilience of its people. Local farmers proudly displayed their best harvests, presenting the open fruits like treasures of the land.

The Halabja Pomegranate and Autumn Festival continues to stand as a major cultural and economic event, celebrating the region's recovery and rich agricultural legacy.