04-05-2025
Baghdad skies filled with kites: Annual festival in Abu Nuwas
Baghdad ( – Kites filled the skies above Abu Nuwas Gardens in central Baghdad on Saturday (May 3, 2025) as families gathered for the Baghdad Kite Festival. Sponsored by the Central Bank of Iraq, the annual event, now in its 8th season, celebrated Iraqi culture and community spirit.
Organizer Ali Al-Ghalib explained the festival, founded in 2017, aims to showcase Baghdadi heritage through elements like Shanashil designs while reflecting the capital's current peace and stability. 'It's an opportunity for children to play with kites and for families to relax in these green spaces,' he told Shafaq News Agency.
Alongside kite flying, the festival featured vibrant bazaars with youth-run stalls offering games, food, and drinks. Notably, the Ministry of Interior's volunteer 'Friends' team participated, engaging the public on crucial issues like drug abuse awareness and promoting the 911 emergency hotline.
For attendees like Fatima Khalid, who came with her child, the event was a chance to 'recapture childhood,' lamenting how simple joys like kite flying have faded in the digital age. The festival successfully blended cultural pride, family fun, and positive community outreach.
