Historic Alantepe Festival celebrated with enthusiasm
The Historic Alantepe Oil Wrestling and Cultural Festival was held this year from August 22–24 with large crowds in attendance, continuing one of the most cherished traditions of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace.
The events began on the first day with a mevlit (memorial prayer) at the Kemerli Mosque in Komotini, where this year’s Alantepe Agha, Ahmet Akraba, resides. Following Friday prayers, Agha Akraba toured villages to personally invite residents to the festival.
The second day opened with competitions featuring young wrestlers on the Alantepe field, followed by concerts from Grup Barout Band, Orkestra Grup Melodi, and Ankaralı Yasemin.
Final Day and Official Attendance
The festival reached its peak on Sunday, August 24, when Agha Ahmet Akraba greeted the crowd at the wrestling grounds. Local and visiting officials entered the venue accompanied by drums and traditional music.
Among the attendees were Türkiye’s Consul General in Komotini, Aykut Ünal, and his wife, Rhodope MP Özgür Ferhat, Deputy Mufti of Komotini Fehim Ahmet, representatives of the Eastern Macedonia–Thrace Region, Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin, FEP Party officials, teacher associations, and numerous NGOs.
From Turkey, guests included Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mehmet Aydın Saldız, Yıldırım Deputy Mayor Mehmet Ali Yazıcı, and Turkish Wrestling Federation Edirne Representative Şamil Doğu Delen.
Key Messages from Speeches
Agha Ahmet Akraba emphasized that preserving the Alantepe tradition is one of the greatest legacies for future generations.
Mayor Erdem Hüseyin highlighted the seven-century history of oil wrestling, noting that “a community survives by preserving its language, religion, and traditions.”
Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın praised oil wrestling as a sport embodying peace, brotherhood, and sportsmanship.
MP Özgür Ferhat stressed unity, saying, “As long as we protect our deep-rooted history, no one can defeat us.”
Consul General Aykut Ünal, attending with his wife İlayda Ünal, reminded that wrestling symbolizes courage, bravery, and honesty in Turkish culture, underlining the importance of passing cultural heritage to the next generation. He congratulated the organizers for their efforts.
Cultural Performances and Wrestling Matches
The program continued with folk dance performances by the İskeçe Turkish Union and Komotini Turkish Youth Union. Later, the eagerly awaited oil wrestling matches drew great interest from the community.
The three-day Historic Alantepe Oil Wrestling and Cultural Festival concluded in a festive atmosphere, leaving an unforgettable mark on Western Thrace.
