Ramadan Drums Replaced by Bells in Bursa

In Bursa’s Emirsultan Neighborhood, Türkiye, drummers avoid playing during sahur due to long-standing rumors. Instead, young residents wake people up by shouting “Pilava pilava” and ringing bells.

According to local beliefs, a past drummer mysteriously woke up in a distant cemetery after playing in the area, leading to fears and the tradition’s abandonment. Resident Mukaddes Karabıyıkoğlu stated, “Our grandfathers and shrines must not be disturbed, so drums have been forbidden since then.”

Today, coordinated by the neighborhood headman, young volunteers maintain the sahur wake-up tradition with bells and calls, preserving a unique cultural practice.

Emir Aktaş