‘You are not a drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a drop.’ Mevlana J. Rumi
Ramadan is a festive season for İstanbul as the majority of İstanbulites are Muslims and there are millions of İstanbulites who fast for the whole month from dusk till dawn. Ramadan is a time dedicated from abstaining from worldly desires and a time dedicated to spiritual renewal and purification of the soul. It is a time for sharing, worshipping and helping those who are in need. This year, Ramadan starts on March 1st.
As Turkish culture has a rich culinary tradition and Turks love to eat, most homes welcome guests and hotels and restaurants offer ‘iftar’s for Ramadan. İftar is the meal when those who fast for the whole day are allowed to ‘break their fast’. The ‘iftar’ tables are extremely rich with hot and cold appetisers, main courses and deserts.
You will be amazed to see the richness of food on iftar tables
If you are in İstanbul during Ramadan, you will notice that mosques are beautifully lit and open till late hours in the evening for Muslims who come to pray after they ‘break their fasts’ with their extended families, neighbours and loved ones. Most İstanbulites prefer to go to historical mosques in traditional neighbourhoods. I would highly recommend you to see Eyüp Sultan and Süleymaniye during Ramadan. You shall be amazed to see the festive mood in these traditional neighbourhoods where families come with their young kids and even babies for prayers.
You will also notice that most Mosques are adorned with glowing messages between the two minarets. These glowing messages create a festive spirit as well as give messages to believers. These two mosques in İstanbul have two different messages. One says ‘There is no God except Allah’ and the other one says ‘Prayer (namaz) is the pillar of religion.’
I was in Eyüp last year in the late hours to see believers and was delighted to observe the joy and the energy of the crowds who were rushing the see this holy place. All cafes, restaurants and patisseries were open till late in the evening. The Eyüp Sultan Mosque was beautifully lit. Most people were praying outside the mosque as there was no place left inside it.
Eyüp during Ramadan
You will get a sense that the city is living 7/24 during Ramadan as believers also have to wake up before dusk to eat before fasting starts for the whole day! Turks are social people so they never miss any chance to socialise and Ramadan is another great occasion to be with loved ones.
There are still Ramadan drummers who wake İstanbulites before dusk for ‘sahur’ before the whole day of fasting.
The Ramadan season almost always shifts as Muslims use the moon calendar. Ramadans during spring and summer also allow İstanbulites to have their İftars outdoors. Have a glimpse at this video to see the spirit of Ramadan that bonds everyone!
