Thousands attend Alantepe cultural events
The 2024 Alantepe Oil Wrestling and Cultural Events, organized by the Kozlukebir Municipality, drew thousands of attendees, bringing together members of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace. This annual event, which has been a cherished tradition for over seven centuries, was once again a resounding success.
The three-day event, a significant cultural heritage of the Turkish minority in the region, commenced on Friday, August 30, 2024. The opening ceremony was held in Basırlıköy, the home village of this year’s event sponsor, Kozlukebir Municipal Council Member Sinan Hasan.
The festivities began with a prayer service at Basırlıköy Mosque, followed by a communal Friday prayer. Afterward, Sinan Hasan hosted a luncheon for guests attending the opening ceremony. Accompanied by traditional drums and zurna, Hasan visited neighboring villages to invite residents to the Alantepe events.
On Saturday, August 31, the program continued at Alantepe with cultural performances, oil wrestling matches, and concerts. Sinan Hasan, accompanied by traditional music, greeted the crowd, marking the start of the second day’s events.
The day featured traditional oil wrestling matches, performances by the Edirne Folk Dance Ensemble from Türkiye, and a concert by the Edirne State Turkish Music and Rumelian Music Ensemble. The evening concluded with a concert by Turkish singer Ankaralı Yasemin. Despite a delayed start due to adverse weather conditions, the audience remained undeterred, staying to enjoy the performance.
The final day, Sunday, September 1, began with Kozlukebir Mayor Erdem Hüseyin welcoming the attending dignitaries. After a tour of the event area, the guests took their seats as the noon prayer was called, leading to a communal prayer led by Mufti İbrahim Şerif.
Subsequently, speeches were delivered by various dignitaries, including Sinan Hasan, Mayor Erdem Hüseyin, Batı Trakya Turkish Minority Advisory Board Chairman and Gümülcine Mufti İbrahim Şerif, Bursa Yıldırım Mayor Oktay Yılmaz, Yeni Sol Party Rodop MP Özgür Ferhat, Meriç Subaşı Mayor Göksel Tüfekçi, and Batı Trakya Turks Solidarity Association President Hasan Karaömer. They all emphasized the importance of preserving and passing on the seven-century-old Alantepe Oil Wrestling tradition to future generations.
Following the speeches, the Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union and İskeçe Turkish Union Folklore Teams took the stage, captivating the audience with their vibrant folk dance performances.
In the final wrestling match, Niyazi İbiş from the Rodop province emerged victorious, defeating his Turkish opponent Atakan Makas to claim the title of 2024 Alantepe Başpehlivan (Champion Wrestler).
The event concluded with a concert by the local music group Restore and a performance by Deniz Seki, a popular singer from Türkiye.
The 2024 Alantepe Oil Wrestling and Cultural Events were marked by a strong sense of community and a shared commitment to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.
