Mahya tradition revived in Sinikova

The village of Sinikova, part of the Mustafçova Municipality in İskeçe, revived the mahya tradition after many years with a community event held on Sunday, September 7. The celebration, organized by local youth and villagers, drew a large turnout.

Once one of the villages with the highest rate of outmigration, Sinikova’s mahya ceremony was brought back to life with the participation of residents now living in villages across the İskeçe and Gümülcine regions.

According to a statement from the İskeçe Muftiate, the event was organized to “revive their birthplace, strengthen unity and solidarity, and share heartfelt and emotional moments together.” The ceremony featured recitations from the Qur’an, mevlid-i şerif, and hymns, and concluded with a prayer by Mufti Mustafa Trampa, who also congratulated the organizers.

Several community leaders attended, including MPs Hüseyin Zeybek and Burhan Baran, Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association President Hüseyin Baltacı, School Board Chairman of the Xanthi Minority Secondary and High School Ozan Ahmetoğlu, and FEP Party Vice President Bahri Belço, each delivering short greeting remarks.

Following the ceremony, participants were offered traditional pilaf with meat.