Ramadan at Üsküdar in Istanbul

Ramadan/Ramazan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset.

The people who break their fast with the evening meal given free by Üsküdar Municipality.

Üsküdar Municipality's Free Ramadan Table / Ramazan Sofrası...

The people who wait their turn for getting free meal...

The children who eats their free meals...

Just as Istanbul manages to straddle Europe and Asia, fuse the ancient and the modern, it also manages to balance traditional and contemporary festivities during the blessed month of Ramadan.

Mahya... Be Fair / Adil Ol.

Whilst preparations for the month long celebrations start weeks in advance. A sure sign that Ramadan has started is when the Mahya, a pattern of light bulbs hung high above the minarets of the main mosques, lights up with the message ‘Welcome! Month of Ramadan / Hoş Geldin Ya Şehr-i Ramazan’. The tradition of the Mahya dates back from the Ottoman times and its religious message is changed every few days, each one exhorting and encouraging people toward goodness. With the Istanbul municipality having completed its preparations to turn the city into an entertainment centre during Ramadan, there are lots of activities to keep everyone, the young and the old, entertained from Sahur to İftar.

The City(!) Ramadan is in the City Üsküdar...