Mayor Muhittin Böcek, “We are protecting our cultural heritage with our festival

The Yoruk Festival experienced Kıraç enthusiasm

The official opening ceremony of the International Antalya Yoruk Turkmen Festival, organized by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality for the 4th time this year, was held with intense participation. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, where the thousands of years of Yoruk culture is introduced and kept alive, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek said, “Yorukism is our essence that makes us who we are. It is the ember that lies in the soul of the Republic of Turkey. “Yörüklik is the secret that Anatolia carries in its lost heart,” he said.

The official opening ceremony of the International Antalya Yörük Turkmen Festival, organized by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality for the 4th time this year to promote and keep Yörük culture alive, was held at Düzlerçamı Karaman Picnic Area. Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek, Members of Parliament, CHP Antalya Provincial Chairman Nail Kamacı, district chairmen, Kyrgyz Republic Antalya Consul General Rustam Koshonov, Kazakh Republic Antalya Consul Kuat Kanafeev, district mayors, Yörük Turkmen Associations, guests from the Turkic world, representatives of various institutions and organizations, women's cooperatives and many citizens attended the ceremony. Mayor Muhittin Böcek received guest country delegations in his tent before the ceremony. Delegations from Turkey and abroad presented Mayor Böcek with gifts.

Governor Şahin's Thanks to Mayor Böcek

Festival opening ceremony İsmail Baha Sürelsan Conservatory It started with the show of the Folk Dance Team. After a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin spoke at the opening ceremony and thanked Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek for the Yörük Festival. Governor Hulusi Şahin said, “The Yörük Turkmen Festival, which has been held for four years, is on the verge of being forgotten, and it reminds us of the high quality of Turkishness here. He said, “The high quality of civilization that Atatürk particularly emphasized in his 10th year speech and said will rise like a sun on the horizon of the horse will rise again and teach the world what justice, peace, rights and truth are.” After his speech, Mayor Muhittin Böcek and Döşemealtı Mayor Menderes Dal presented Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin with a Döşemealtı Carpet and a plaque.

We are Protecting the Cultural Heritage

“I am very happy to see that my dream of protecting our cultural heritage together with our festival is realized with greater enthusiasm every year,” said Mayor Muhittin Böcek, starting his speech, “Today, here, at the foot of the Taurus Mountains, we are touching the essence, roots and hearts of the Yörüks and Turkmens who know the language of the mountains and have made nature their friends, and do not forget that the Yörük fire will not go out, the Turkmen hand will not bend. This statement is not just a sentence; it is the name of a march, a resistance, an honor that has lasted for centuries,” he said.

Yörüklük is a Culture

Emphasizing that Yörüklik is not a race or sect but a culture, President Muhittin Böcek said, “We are the children of a blessed march on horseback from the vast steppes of Central Asia to the Taurus Mountains, from the Altay Mountains to the Danube. We are the Yörük Turkmen grandchildren of the Turk who has kneaded culture in our tents, who has set up a feast with his drum, who has burned love with his saz. For us, bravery, courage, determination and hard work; love and tolerance, loyalty have turned into folk songs and epics from our language and heart. We neither oppress, nor are we oppressed, nor bow down. We do not oppress and never bow down to oppression. We will always stand by the oppressed, against the oppressor,” he said.

President Böcek thanked those who participated in the festival, supported and worked hard. After his speech, President Böcek presented Sibel Gazen with the İl Hatun sword.

Kıraç Enthused the Yörük Festival

Following the opening ceremony, Kıraç, the beloved name of Anatolian Rock music, took the stage. Kıraç, who sang his songs with his fans who filled the concert area, presented a musical feast. Kıraç, who sang his beloved songs together with the people of Antalya, said that he was happy to be in Antalya, at the Yörük Turkmen Festival. The people of Antalya sang Kıraç’s songs in unison. President Muhittin Böcek also thanked Kıraç for adding color to the festival and presented him with a Döşemealtı Carpet.