Mardi Gras Band Turns Corner in Erbil Sunset

Brass instruments gleam under the warm glow of firelight as a marching band executes a sharp turn on a wet Erbil street. Low-hanging monsoon clouds press down on the procession, casting a heavy gray ceiling above the vibrant red and gold uniforms. Water droplets rest on the polished metal of the tubas and the fabric of the sashes, reflecting the flickering torchlight. The formation remains perfectly symmetrical, with rows of musicians moving in disciplined unison across the slick pavement. Dust and mist swirl slightly around the boots, caught in the golden hour light that cuts through the humid air. at the edge shows the precise alignment of the drummers' batons against the darkening sky.