The centuries-old Ottoman tradition of “mahya,” decorative lights adorning mosques during Ramadan, has been revived at the Eyüpsultan Mosque in Istanbul. Kahraman Yıldız, the last known mahya artisan, and his team, orchestrated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the General Directorate of Foundations, meticulously prepared and hung the first mahya. The intricate process involved ascending the minaret to suspend the mahya, displaying the words ‘Ramadan is the month of the Quran’ initially. The symbolic event, capturing the essence of Ramadan, was captured from the air. Plans are underway to extend this tradition to other historic mosques in Istanbul.
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