ISTANBUL, May 29 (APP/IINA): Ramzan, the month that Muslims around the
world have been looking forward to almost a year, has finally arrived.
Istanbul, the Turkish city of minarets, is surely one of the best
places to experience the spirit of Ramzan to the fullest.
Istanbul, one of the greatest cities in the world, is definitely a
spiritual place.
Having stood for centuries, the city has sheltered people from
numerous religions.
However, Ramzan in Istanbul is surely a different experience.
The land of minarets offers a unique and spiritual journey to its
residents and guests throughout the holy month.
The dinner table is set: Soup has been put in bowls; olives and dates
have found their way near to people’s plates; and somebody has already begun to pour the water into the glasses.
The anticipation is killing the people sitting around the table.
The meal looks delicious, but everybody is on their toes, waiting for
the big finale.
And suddenly, they hear a huge banging, like a cannonball, and the imam of the nearest mosque calls everybody to prayer with the azan.
Ramzan has finally arrived, and Muslims still feel the same thrill every year with the coming of this holy month.
There are certain things that most Istanbulites do every Ramzan.
Although, they sound like clich‚s, they are the things that keep up the Ramzan spirit all over the city.
Ramzan is the month of special meals. The whole family gets together and eats to break their fast, with a meal called Iftar.
The Spice Bazaar in Istanbul assumes a new identity during the holy month.
People visit here to pick up the best spices for their delicious meals as well as snacks and dessert for the rest of the evening. If you want to experience the full Ramzan dinner table spirit, you should definitely head there during this month.
Sultanahmet, located in the Historical Peninsula, is one of the most
visited places during Ramzan in Istanbul.
The place where you can find both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia hosts hundreds, even thousands of Muslims, as well as tourists during this holy month.
The Blue Mosque, which is adorned with blue, green and white Iznik tiles is a place that you can experience spiritual guidance at its best.
During Ramzan, people pack their picnic bags and break their fast in the gardens of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia or on the lawns.
People share their food with each other and talk among themselves even if they do not know each other.
Moreover, theology professor Nihat Hatipoglu, who hosts a Ramzan TV
special, hosts the show live from Sultanahmet every year so you can join the
crowd and listen to him in person.
Eyp Sultan Mosque is another place that draws quite a lot of visitors
during Ramadan. Built upon the orders of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1458 around the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the mosque features a madrasah, a public bath, and a fountain.
The mosque hosts various events specially programmed for Ramzan, and
thousands of people around Istanbul spend the night in the garden of the mosque.
People make “suhoor” in the garden and perform their morning prayers in the mosque.
Most come to the mosque after “Iftar.” and spend time with their loved
ones until dawn.
This year, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality cleaned the entire courtyard of the mosque as well as the interior with rosewater and announced that municipality workers will do the same every day during Ramzan.
If you want to get into the Ramzan spirit, Eyp Sultan Mosque might be the right place for you.
During Ramzan, people, play and make wishes for themselves and their loved ones.
The Oru‡ Baba Tomb in Istanbul is one of the most frequently visited places in Istanbul.
Oru‡ Baba is rumored to be a pasha in the army of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. People pay a visit to the tomb of Oru‡ Baba and break their fast.
They later pray for this historic figure and make wishes. The tomb is always crowded during Ramadan, so if you want to breakfast in this location, you have to get there early, Daily Sabah News reported.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality also organizes a number of Ramzan
events that are suited for the spiritual atmosphere of the month.
This year, Yenikapi will be the center of the Ramzan events.
Additionally, other events such as a concert of Sufi music, poetry readings, whirling dervish shows, shadow puppet shows, and stage plays will be organized in Sultanahmet, on the Maltepe Coast, as well as Feshane.
Ramzan, which is one of Islam’s five pillars, alongside the declaration of faith; prayer five times a day; alms-giving; and the pilgrimage to Makkah, is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.