A little over 24 hours before the start of the holiest month for Muslims, Turkey is preparing for the arrival of Ramadan as markets and bazaars fill with people buying typical products to be consumed during sahur (the lunch before dawn) or iftar (the dinner after breaking the fasting), and restaurants prepare special menus for these very special dates.
On Saturday 1st March, the holy month of Ramadan begins this year according to the Islamic lunar calendar, a time during which faithful Muslims must abstain not only from eating and drinking, but also from blasphemy, evil thoughts and actions, smoking and sexual relations, from sunrise to sunset. It is a time when the believer is invited to practice introspection, the purification of body and soul and moderation, putting themselves in the place of those who suffer thirst and hunger and sharing the iftar meal with which the daily fast is broken after sunset.
It is precisely during the dinner that is held when the sun sets on the horizon that these days collective meals are organised, in which families, friends and neighbours gather in streets and squares to celebrate the breaking of the daily fast after the last light of the day. All believing Muslims are obliged to fast, except for children, the sick, the elderly, pregnant women, and those who are travelling.
In addition to these gatherings after the daily fasting, and of course the acts of charity (public or private) and the mass prayers in the mosques, something that is also very typical during Ramadan in Turkey are the so-called mahya lights: it is a whole art of illuminating the mosques, from whose minarets messages are hung – like gigantic garlands – with luminous letters that reproduce verses from the Quran, or phrases with a religious meaning or that invite people to do good.
The tradition of the mahya lights dates back to the 16th century, in the days of the Ottoman Empire, and although in the past oil lamps were used to recreate these religious messages, by the 20th century they had been replaced by light bulbs, while nowadays LED lights are used. During Ramadan in Istanbul, iconic temples such as the New Mosque of Eminönü, Hagia Sophia and the Süleymaniye Mosque display these illuminated messages, which help to enhance the beauty of these historic buildings; however, the famous Blue Mosque (or Sultanahmet Mosque) will not be displaying these decorations this year due to the restoration work it is undergoing.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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