Over 30 groups from Northern and Eastern Syria participate in the 2nd Orkêş Music and Song Festival that started in Qamishlo on Wednesday.

Intellectuals, people and music lovers attended the festival held in the halls of Mihemed Şêxo Culture and Art Center. Photographs of Martyr Hozan Mizgîn, Martyr Hakî Karer, as well as Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan were hung in the hall where the festival was held.

At the beginning of the festival, artist Bêkes Darî, a member of the Mesopotamia Democratic Culture and Art Movement, presented a tribute to all the art martyrs of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement, and in particular to Martyr Mizgîn, who fell as a martyr 31 years ago.

Darî said: "The purpose of this festival is to bring the cultures of all peoples closer together, especially in such an environment where the invading Turkish state is trying to destroy these cultures with its attacks. That's why we have to protect our culture."

Darî said the evaluation committee for the festival is made up of musician Reşîd Sofî, artist Delîl Mîrsaz, artist Serhed and artist Mizgîn Tahir.

Vivyan Beho, co-chair of the Jazira Region Democratic Autonomous Administration Executive Council, said: "With this festival, we confirm that we will continue to protect our culture and art against all attacks."

In addition, Jazira Region Culture and Art Committee member Serhed Zana drew attention to the responsibility that artists should take in this process and said: "Today, a general resistance is being carried out in Kurdistan and the region against hostile systems, especially the invading Turkish state. This resistance grows thanks to the ideas of Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Every artist should play his/her role through art to guarantee that the achievements are passed over to the next generation. We will be the voice of the peoples and we will turn the festival into a tool to defeat the genocidal policies of the enemy.”

The festival will last for a week.