Hilla, Iraq:Showcasing traditional dance, music and arts, Iraq’s Babylon International Festival has attracted thousands of fans for the first time in two war-scarred decades.
“It’s a great joy. We haven’t seen a festival like this for years,” said Shaima, 45, visiting the event at the ancient archeological site with her two daughters.
The last edition of the festival was held in 2002, the year before the US-led invasion that toppled the veteran dictator Saddam Hussein.
In the years after, Iraq saw war between US troops and insurgents, sectarian clashes and the battle against the Islamic State group. Tens of thousands died and much of the country and its rich cultural heritage were reduced to rubble.
Today there is relative stability, though marred by periodic IS attacks and political tensions, and Iraqis are looking to the future. The five-day festival, which ended Monday, is one of the symbols of this new hope.