08 Sep 16th International Muğla Yörük Turkmen Festival Held with Great Enthusiasm
Organized in cooperation with Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and Muğla Yörük Obaları Association, the 16th International Muğla Yörük Turkmen Festival was held on 6–7 September at Düzeyn Plateau in Menteşe.
The event was attended by Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality; Samir Abbasov, Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Türkiye; Anguel Tcholakov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Türkiye; Oleg Serebrian, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Türkiye; Gonca Köksal, Mayor of Menteşe; Nelli Guboglo, Deputy Mayor of Çadır-Lunga, Moldova; Hüseyin Karameşe, Deputy Governor of Muğla; İsmail Cengiz, President of the Eurasian Turkic Associations Federation; Orhan Akcan, President of the Muğla Yörük Obaları Association, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, local village heads (muhtars), and many citizens
It Began with the Yörük Fire and Ended with a Concert
On the first day, it opened with a panel entitled ‘From Kopuz to Saz: Music in Nomadic Culture.’ The program continued with Yörük Turkmen cultural workshops, folk performances from Moldova, Azerbaijani folk dances, and the lighting of the Yörük Fire. On the second day, the events featured local artists, traditional dances from Kazakhstan, zeybek performances, and a concert by Mustafa Özcan.
Akcan: “Through These Events, We Aim to Pass Yörük Culture on to Future Generations”
Orhan Akcan, President of the Muğla Yörük Obaları Association said: “As Muğla Yörük Obaları, we believe that we represent our province in the best possible way both at home and abroad. We would like to extend our gratitude to Mr. Ahmet Aras, Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, and to all his colleagues for always standing by us and for their support in the organization of the 16th International Muğla Yörük Turkmen Festival. With our festival, which grows larger every year and has now reached an international scale, we are working to preserve the nomadic lifestyle, values, and many other cultural heritages of the Yörük tradition, and to pass them on to future generations.”
Cengiz: “The Festival Will Continue, Our Turkish Identity Will Remain Eternal”
İsmail Cengiz, President of the Eurasian Turkic Associations Federation said: “We are together here with representatives from many places. This festival is a tradition that has been kept alive in these lands since 1260, the year the Menteşe Beylik was founded. As long as the festival continues, our Turkish identity will remain eternal.”
Karameşe: “Being a Yörük Symbolizes Independence and Freedom”
Hüseyin Karameşe, Deputy Governor of Muğla, said: “Being a Yörük means independence and freedom. If a country loses its independence, it loses everything. We attach great importance to these events, which are organized to pass on these values to future generations. I would like to thank everyone who contributed.”
Köksal: “The Turkmen Tradition is Built on Freedom, Harmony with Nature, and Solidarity”
Gonca Köksal, Mayor of Menteşe, said: “We are here to keep alive a culture that has endured for thousands of years. When I think of the Turkmen tradition, three core values come to mind: freedom, harmony with nature, and solidarity. This ancient culture was built upon these three philosophical foundations. Plateau life, animal husbandry, handicrafts, and hospitality form the cultural memory of Anatolia spanning thousands of years. It has left us with a path that shows the importance of solidarity. A society that shares its bread and its troubles can never be shaken. Today, more than ever, we need this solidarity. Just as we have protected our land, water, and nature in the past, today we must protect our environment, our olive groves, and our plateaus. We are working with all our strength to achieve this.”
Serebrian: “As Gagauz Turks, We Are Delighted to Take Part in the Festival”
Oleg Serebrian, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Türkiye, said: “It is wonderful to be part of this event. There are participants from different parts of the world. My compatriots, Gagauz Turks who live in Ciadir Lunga city of Moldova, are very pleased to be present at the festival. Seeing their tents here and being part of this unity is very valuable for us.”
“The Festival Became a Meeting Point of Hospitality and Peoples”
Anguel Tcholakov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria said: “Thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality. It is a great pleasure to be here.”
Samir Abbasov, Director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Türkiye, said: “The tents set up here became a meeting point where civilizations were showcased and peoples came together. As the cultural center affiliated with our embassy, we are very pleased to take part in these festivals.”
Mayor Aras: “Without Unity, the Republic Cannot Stand”
Ahmet Aras, President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, delivered a message of unity and solidarity in his speech: “Muğla is a city deeply attached to its culture. It has been this way for centuries, and we are working together to ensure that it remains so in the future. The Turkish nation spread from Ötüken and Khorasan to Anatolia and the Caucasus, adopting a fair and inclusive style of governance in those lands. Today as well, it stands with oppressed peoples. It is once again the Turkish nation that opens its arms to those who suffer persecution in Syria, Iraq, and Palestine. We are striving to ensure that peace prevails both in our region and in the world.”
“Our Roots Go Back Thousands of Years, We Must Preserve Our Culture”
“Culture is the heritage that distinguishes nations from one another and carries them into the future. Culture is the name of an accumulation built over thousands of years. If you lose your culture, you lose your very existence. After founding the Republic, our ancestor established the Turkish Historical Society to trace the roots of the Turkish nation. From Central Asia to Anatolia, he followed our footprints—because our roots go back to antiquity. Even the Turkish army alone was founded 2,500 years ago. We must know that we are members of an ancient nation, and we must take pride in it.”
“Today, there is no room for division. If the Yörüks and Turkmens do not stand together, the Republic of Türkiye cannot endure. We will begin preparations for next year’s festival right away. Our destiny is one, our future is one. The guarantee of peace in these lands, in the Balkans, and in Central Asia is our brotherhood. How happy is the one who says, ‘I am a Turk!’”
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