Turkey: A traditional wake up service, special to Ramadan

[Ms DD]

Turkey: A traditional wake up service, special to Ramadan

 

22-09-2007

 

By ÞAFAK TÝMUR

 

This is an interesting story on some of the local traditions in Turkey during the blessed month of Ramadan:

 

 

ISTANBUL, (Turkisn Daily News):

 

Imagine being awakened in your warm bed at 4:00 a.m. to the incessant pounding of drums and knowing that you will be hearing this for an entire month. Kind of scary, isn't it?

 

Not for many Muslim believers in Turkey who have a tradition of hearing the ‘Ramazan davulcusu' – a drummer who alerts people that it is time for the predawn meal during Ramadan by playing his drum in the streets. There is an ongoing debate, however, whether to ban the davulcu from performing his art due to complaints that the drum causes disturbance and has become unnecessary with the widespread use of alarm clocks.

 

A reporter from the Turkish Daily News did not hesitate to stay sleepless last night and do the rounds with davulcu Ramazan Çalgýcý from Istanbul's central Eyüp district that has numerous tombs and famous mosques.

 

Eyüp was as lively in the middle of the night as it is during the day, with numerous families and women visiting tombs and a few people sleeping on benches as they waited for the morning prayer.

 

The back streets, however, were silent. The lights in many houses were already lit, before the davulcu started beating his drum. But still quite a few Eyüp residents peered out their windows to look for the drummer just before dawn.

 

"Ramadan is not like it was before, nor the davulcu," said Zuhal Özkara, as she watched the davulcu from her window.

 

She called after Çalgýcý, “hit that drum more strongly, [do not mind] those who are not fasting.”

 

Özkara's neighbor Þerife Karþin likes to hear the sound of the drum at night, although she does not wake up to it.

 

 

Symbol of Ramadan

 

Despite setting off car alarms and disturbing many people who do not eat the predawn meal, the drum is a symbol of Ramadan for numerous Eyüp residents: It tells them the holy month for Muslims is here.

 

“The sound of the drum should be heard,” said Dilaver Bilgili, adding that he did not agree with people who are disturbed by the noise. It is not continuous, he said, just for a month.

 

Çalgýcý said although there were people who got angry with them as the drum does make a lot of noise, drums are a part of this society's culture, for the residents of Eyüp who met with the TDN at 4:00 am.

 

“This is our tradition, we should protect the davulcu,” said Kadir Yener, another resident. The drums are a part of Ramadan culture, said university student Ogün Ayoðlu.

 

Davulcu Çalgýcý, who bangs away on his drum with his 17-year-old son, is like a living symbol of this ancient Ottoman tradition with his name. Ramazan, his first name, which is also the name of his son, means Ramadan, and is a common Turkish male name.

 

His surname Çalgýcý, however, arguably a nickname despite his claim to the contrary, means “musician” in English. Çalgýcý plays the drum at weddings in his hometown Adana for the rest of the year, and comes to Istanbul every Ramadan with his five sons and almost 50 relatives, who wake people up in various neighborhoods across Istanbul.

 

“This job is not that easy,” said Çalgýcý. It is more difficult on sloped roads. Rain, cold weather, sleeplessness – there are many difficulties a davulcu faces.

 

Çalgýcý did not come to Istanbul to earn more money, he came because weddings are postponed during Ramadan. “It would not be correct to steal another's bread,” he said explaining his reasons for not staying in Adana to play the drum there during Ramadan. He met with one of his relatives at that moment, the davulcu of a nearby neighborhood.

 

“We earn only our bread money, we paint shoes during the day, and haven't slept until now,” Çalgýcý said.

 

http://www.turkishnews.com/NewsNetwork/

[NGONGE]

^^ Have we gone off Arab News now?

[Ms DD]

You spoke too soon mate

[Jacaylbaro]

SUXUUUUUUUUUUUUUR ,, SUXUUR YAA CIBAADALLAAAH SUXUUUUUUUUUUUUUUR

 

 

I used to hear that before they changed to shout from the Mosques with the same tune and words.

 

I remember those who use to go around and scream SUXUUUUUUUUUUR in the refugee camps back in the days.

[Jamster]

Sheeka: I leave you in peace ileen waa wiil dulcad iyo xarshin kusoo korey!!.

[Ms DD]

I dont recall these callers back in Somalia. Did we used to have them?

[Jacaylbaro]

Yes ,, we use to have them in the refugee camps ,, there were some people who used to go around and shout SUXUUUUR ,, but we never used drums.

 

Now in the cities, Yes, the mosques start the first Athan around 4am and shout SUXUUR SUXUUR on the speakers so that people get up and eat the suhuur.

 

 

Fahiye, yes dulcad iyo daroor baan soo joogay.

[Malika]

They do practice the same tradition in Tanzania,its exciting though to see them around the neighbourhoods.They would be given money or food for their families..