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 Minor Islamic Festivals in Turkey

 

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These minor Islamic festivals are not public holidays, and they won't affect your travel plans much except to make your time in Turkey more interesting and enjoyable.

Note the dates so you can explore—and perhaps participate in—the meaning and delights of the festivals, and remember that these Islamic festivals begin in the evening and last until the next evening:

Asure Günü: Martyrdom of Imam Hüseyin
Mevlid-i Nebi: Birthday of the Prophet Muhammed
Regaip Kandili: Prophet Muhammed's conception
Miraç Kandili: Prophet Muhammed's ascent to heaven
Berat Kandili: Day of Forgiveness

ASURE GÜNÜ
Asure Günü
(AH-shoo-REH gew-new), the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Muharrem, is estimated to fall on:

2008: 18/19 January

2009: 6/7 January and 26/27 December

2010: 15/16 December

It's not a public holiday, but is commemorated in Turkey as the date that: Adam repented his sin, the Prophet Abraham was born, Jonah emerged from the whale, and Noah's ark rested on dry land. For Shi'a Muslims, it has extraordinary importance as the day that Imam Hüseyin, the grandson of the Prophet, was martyred on the battlefield of Kerbela (Karbala) in 680 CE/AD.

It will also reputedly be the Day of Judgement—when that comes!

Turks commemorate it by serving a special sweet pudding called asure (AH-shoo-REH) made with cereals, raisins and nuts.

MEVLID-I NEBI (Mevlid Kandili)
Mevlid-i Nebi
(mehv-LEED ee NEH-bee), the Prophet Muhammad's birthday, is fixed as the 12th day of the 3rd month (Rebi' ul-Evvel/Rabi' ul-Awwal) of the Hijri calendar. It's celebrated with mosque illuminations and special foods, and is estimated to fall on:

2007: 29/30 March

2008: 18/19 March

REGAIP KANDILI
Regaip Kandili
(reh-gah-YEEP kahn-dee-lee), the "Beginning of the Three Moons," 4th of Recep (Rajab), celebrating the night of Muhammed's conception, is estimated to fall on:

2007: 18/19 July

2008: 7/8 July

2009: 26/27 June

2010: 15/16 June

Celebrations include mosque illuminations (pretty and photogenic).

MIRAÇ KANDILI
Miraç Kandili
(mee-RATCH kahn-dee-lee), 27th of Recep (Rajab), celebrates the Prophet Muhammed's ascent into heaven. It's estimated to fall on:

2007: 10/11 August

2008: 29/30 July

2009: 19/20 July

2010: 9/10 July

BERAT KANDILI
Berat Kandili
(beh-RAHT kahn-dee-lee), the "Day of Forgiveness," (14th of Saban) is celebrated on:

2007: 26/27 August

2008: 15/16 August

2009: 4/5 August

2010: 25/26 July

...lighting up the mosques.


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Crescent and star decorations on a snack cart, Istanbul, Turkey

Decorations on a snack cart for Islamic festivals.