Daily Life In The Ottoman Empire by Mehrdad Kia

Author:Mehrdad Kia [Kia, Mehrdad]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ramazan Bayrami

The end of Ramazan was marked with a three-day Islamic holiday called Ramazan Bayrami (Ramazan Festival) or Şeker Bayrami (Sugar Festival) also known in Arabic as Eid ul-Fitr or Eid us-Sagheer, Minor Festival. The month of fasting ended and the festivities began with the first appearance of the new moon heralding the month of Shawwal. At times, the bayram was delayed if the weather was cloudy and the new moon did not appear in the sky. If the sky remained cloudy and the moon was obscured, it was simply presumed that the new moon was present and the month of fasting had ended. In Istanbul, the end of Ramazan was officially proclaimed with discharging of cannons at the imperial palace. The lights and lamps on the minarets were extinguished, and drums and trumpets were played in public places and the homes of high government officials and court dignitaries.

Even before the arrival of the bayram, the sultan — as well as the rich and powerful who surrounded him — demonstrated their devotion, charity, and piety by distributing alms to the poor. Some families prepared a variety of dishes and sent them to their neighbors, as well as to the poor and the needy. In the courtyards of the main mosques, markets were set up to sell meat, fruits, vegetables, sweets, clothing, fabrics, candles, toys, and a host of other popular goods. On the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar, came the Ramazan celebration.

At the palace, the entrance leading to the apartments of the chief eunuch, who commanded the royal pages, was adorned with rich carpets, cushions, and furniture. A few hours before daybreak, the grand vizier and other high officials and court dignitaries assembled at the palace, where shortly after sunrise the sultan mounted his horse and rode passed his officials to attend prayers at Aya Sofya. After performing his prayers, the sultan returned to the palace and entered the royal chamber, where he sat on the throne with the grand vizier standing on his right and the chief eunuch standing on his left. The sons of the Han of Crimea, who lived as hostages at the Ottoman court, were the first to wish the sultan a happy bayram as they kissed the hem of his sleeve. To show his respect for them, the sultan walked three paces to meet them. Once the Tatar princes had retired, the grand vizier followed by kneeling in front of the sultan, kissing the hem of the sleeve of his royal master, and wishing him, on behalf of the entire government, happy and healthy festivities. After the grand vizier, the şeyhülislam led a delegation of religious dignitaries such as the kadiaskers (the highest religious judges under şeyhülislam), and the prominent Muslim scholars and preachers. The şeyhülislam approached the sultan, bowed his head to the ground, and, holding his hand on his girdle, kissed the sultan on the left shoulder. To express his respect for the religious establishment, the sultan walked one step forward to meet the şeyhülislam.

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