In the city of Kirkuk in Iraq, the traditional “sini zarf” game, which has been a part of people’s celebrations for decades after iftar and tarawih prayers during Ramadan, is still being kept alive today. This traditional game unique to the Turkmen people brings them together in places where Turkmen communities are densely populated, especially in Kirkuk.

The game, which is only played in teahouses, starts after the tarawih prayers and continues until sahur. In cities like Erbil, Mosul, Diyala, and Salahaddin, this game is played accompanied by songs. In the Musalla neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kirkuk, Muhammed Kaya, who plays the sini zarf game at the teahouse of the same name, explained, “In this traditional game, there are two teams. One team places a bead called zarf on one of the 11 cups on the sini. The players of the other team then try to find the zarf under the cup.”

Kaya pointed out that the 11 zarfs in the game symbolize the 11 months of the year, and one sini represents the month of Ramadan. He noted that this game serves as a social gathering for everyone during the month of Ramadan, regardless of age.

Business owner Nazım Demirci stated that the “sini zarf” game is the traditional entertainment and festivity of Ramadan nights in Kirkuk. Demirci mentioned that people flock to his establishment every night after the tarawih prayers, and he expressed that for decades, his teahouse has been enlivened with this game especially during Ramadan.

Although the game is specific to Turkmen culture, Demirci mentioned that Kurds and Arabs also participate in this game, emphasizing that it brings people from all backgrounds together.