The streets of Eminönü, one of the most famous neighborhoods in Istanbul – located on the banks of the Golden Horn – are currently packed with people planning to spend the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha in Arabic, Kurban Bayramı in Turkish) in the city and taking advantage of the good weather and the nine-day holiday weekend to do their shopping in the area. Footage captured from the air by a drone shows such a large crowd that, according to some, “it’s almost impossible to walk.”
Starting early yesterday morning, there was a significant influx of people in this popular Istanbul neighborhood. The crowds are particularly visible around the main historical sites and tourist attractions, such as the New Mosque or the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar). While some visitors took the opportunity to shop, others visited monuments and other sites: thousands of people gathered in the same area, creating stunning aerial images as seen by the drone.
“I came here for a walk. Eminönü is unusually crowded today. There are always people here, but not this many. There’s a huge crowd because of the holiday. No matter where I look, there’s almost no room to move,” said a man interviewed by a reporter from the Turkish news agency DHA.
For his part, Emrah Çetin, who traveled with his family from Bartın — on Turkey’s Black Sea coast — taking advantage of the nine-day holiday period, was also amazed by the crowded streets: “Istanbul is a very beautiful city, but it’s very crowded. I think it’s because of the holidays. We walked around the Sultanahmet area and visited museums. We also saw some historical sites. Now we’re going to explore Eminönü and then continue on to the Galata Tower. Tomorrow we’re planning a trip abroad; we’re going to Egypt,” he said.
The Kurban Bayramı, or Feast of the Sacrifice, is one of the most important celebrations in Islam; it commemorates the moment when the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) offered to sacrifice his son Ismael (in the Bible, it is Isaac who was to be sacrificed) in obedience to God before Allah provided him with a ram for the sacrifice. In remembrance of this event, during these days millions of Muslims participate in special prayers, visit family members, and perform acts of solidarity by sacrificing an animal and distributing its meat among those in need. In Turkey, the holiday is celebrated this year from May 27 to 30, although authorities have extended the vacation period for certain workers and civil servants, creating a 9-day long weekend.
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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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