Alevi-Bektashi culture at the festival in Yenikapı

Oktay EVSEN

The Serçeşme Hünkâr Hacı Bektaş Veli Festival, organized by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) for the fourth time, will bring together music, culture, and the spirit of social solidarity at the Yenikapı Event Hall on September 13-14. This year, the Serçeşme Hünkâr Hacı Bektaş Veli Festival 4 will host numerous artists and groups, including Grup Abdal, Hüseyin Albayrak, Hüseyin Korkankorkmaz, Kardeş Türküler, Kemal Dinç, Mikail Aslan, and Moğollar.

The festival , which highlights Alevi - Bektashi culture, will appeal to participants of all ages with a program reflecting Istanbul's multicultural landscape. As part of the festival, gastronomic items such as Hızır lokma (a type of sweet pastry) and aşure, which hold a significant place in the Alevi-Bektashi faith, will be prepared at stands and explained along with their religious rituals. The festival program will include talks at the Balım Sultan Tent and meetings with academics at the Metrohan and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Libraries. Free tickets can be purchased through the Istanbul Senin app.