In the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, the traditional game of “sini zarf” has been a part of people’s entertainment for decades after iftar and evening prayers during the Ramadan month. This traditional game unique to Turkmen people brings Turkmen communities together, especially in Kirkuk and other places where they reside.

The game, which is only played in teahouses, starts after the evening prayers and continues until sahur. In cities like Erbil, Mosul, Diyala, and Salahaddin, this game is played to folk songs. Muhammad Kaya, who plays the sini zarf game at the teahouse in the oldest district of Musalla in Kirkuk, explained, “There are two teams in this traditional game. One team places a bead called ‘zarf’ under one of the 11 cups on the ‘sini’. The players from the other team then try to find the bead under one of the cups.”

Kaya noted that the 11 beads in the game symbolize the 11 months of the year, with one ‘sini’ representing the month of Ramadan. He emphasized that this game serves as a social gathering for everyone during Ramadan, regardless of age. Businessman Nazim Demirci stated that the “sini zarf” game is a traditional entertainment and festivity during Ramadan nights in Kirkuk.

Demirci mentioned that people flock to his establishment every night after the evening prayers, and he emphasized that his teahouse has been lively with this game, especially during Ramadan, for decades. Although the game is associated with Turkmen people, Demirci pointed out that Kurds and Arabs also participate in it, and he highlighted that the game brings together people from all backgrounds.