Assyrian New Year Festival in Sydney: Celebrating tradition, history and unity

The 6773rd annual Assyrian New Year festival was celebrated on April 2, 2023, at the Fairfield Showground in Sydney, Australia. The event attracted over 10,000 attendees, including government officials and members of the Assyrian community worldwide.

Festivities' guests and organisers. Credit: marieel yalda

Key Points

• More than 10, 000 people attended the festival.
• Guests included federal, state and local representatives.
• The NSW government announced a $200,000 grant for the festival.

Among attendees were the representative of the Prime Minister, members of the Australian Labor and Liberal parties, the mayor and councillors of Fairfield City Council, guests from overseas, and members of the Assyrian community from Sydney and Melbourne.

SBS Assyrian covered the event and produced an audio report highlighting the festivities.

We want this festival to be the best not only in Australia but the world.

D Hugh McDermott MP

One of the event's highlights was a six-year-old boy named Messiah Mourad, who greeted the crowd and wished them a happy new year in six languages, including English, German, French, Chinese, Arabic, and Assyrian.

Messiah Mourad welcomes guests in six languages. Credit: marieel yalda/ANC

Hermi Shahen, President of the Assyrian National Council and the festival organisers, welcomed guests and asserted the Assyrian people's will to exist and persevere.

During his speech, Fairfield Mayor, Frank Carbone, talked about the history and achievements of the ancient Assyrians and how today's Assyrians integrated into Australian society.

Member for Prospect, Dr Hugh McDermott, announced a $200,000 grant over four years from the NSW government to be given to the Assyrian National Council to expand the Assyrian festival.

Member for Prospect, Dr Hugh McDermott. Credit: marieel yalda/ANC

The Honorable Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia, representing the Prime Minister, spoke about his close ties to the Assyrian community and frequent festival attendance.

Federal Minister Chris Bowen Credit: marieel yalda/ANC

The Assyrian of the Year award went to Rabi Anwar Atto for his dedication and hard work through the decades to preserve and teach the Assyrian language.

Assyrians I have seen in the past years have grown and become well integrated into Australian society.

Minister Chris Bowen

Anwar Atto receives his award from Minister Chris Bowen. Credit: Marieel Yalda/ANC

After the conclusion of the official part of the festival, a grand procession featuring the "King and Queen of Assyria", along with a retinue of Assyrian guards and dancers, was performed.

The procession highlighted the Assyrian people's joy in continuing their traditions and history.

The "King and Queen of Assyria" procession capped off celebrations. Credit: marieel yalda/ANC

During the festival, local entertainer and choreographer, Niramseen Yako, presented a song that mixed English and Assyrian lyrics and melodies, featuring over 30 performers on stage and on the floor. The performance was full of action and dances that entertained the crowd.

More than 60 dancers participated in this segment. Credit: marieel yalda/ANC

The celebration continued well into the evening, with hundreds of people pouring through the gate by the hour.

When you work for your nation, you don't expect to be rewarded... you do it for the love of your nation.

Rabi Anwar Atto

By 5pm, there were almost 8,000 people in the Fairfield Showgrounds, all protected from the rainy weather under the roof of the FSG.

The festival also featured Assyrian rappers, entertainers from Melbourne and the US, and local singers from Sydney and Melbourne.

The organisers estimated that over 10,000 people had visited the festival, with younger people dominating the attendees.

Part of the 10,000-strong crowd that attended the festival. Credit: marieel yalda/ANC

As the night wore on, the skies above the FSG were lit up with a spectacular display of colours from the fireworks finale, ending a truly unforgettable day of celebration and joy for Sydney's Assyrian community.