Traditional invitation with drum and zurna before Kırkpınar

Before the 665th Historical Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival, the centuries-old invitation tradition was revived in Edirne. A team of drum and zurna players, dressed in traditional costumes, paraded through the city's streets and squares, inviting shopkeepers and citizens to the historic wrestling event. The group, consisting of about 40 people, created colorful scenes in the city center with their drum and zurna melodies. The tunes, rising ahead of the festival starting on July 3, brought the excitement of wrestling to the city days in advance. Citizens and shopkeepers watched the traditional team with interest, and many recorded the moments with their mobile phones.

During the invitation tour, citizens and shopkeepers watched the traditional team with great interest. Many people recorded the moments with their mobile phones, while some gave tips to support the team. Despite the hot weather, the team continued their duties, keeping the Kırkpınar tradition alive. The team's chief, Fahrettin Zurnacı, stated that he has been involved in these invitations for years and that the drum and zurna tradition is an inseparable part of the organization. He emphasized that they carry out their work with great dedication despite the challenging temperatures.

Sinan Orçin, a member of the drum and zurna team, noted that Kırkpınar is one of Edirne's most important values and called on all citizens and shopkeepers to share in the wrestling excitement. He said that this culture has been passed down from his family, and he has been part of the invitation tradition since childhood, expressing great happiness in continuing this legacy. He also stressed the importance of preserving the tradition for the city.

This year, young zurna player Nefes Altıok joined the team for the first time. He stated that keeping alive the culture he learned from his elders holds great meaning for him. Altıok expressed pride in being part of Kırkpınar and said he wants to pass traditional music on to future generations. He emphasized the importance of young people's participation in such cultural events.

İbrahim Duran, a shopkeeper in the bazaar, stated that Kırkpınar is not just a sports event but an important part of Edirne's cultural identity. He noted that keeping the centuries-old invitation tradition alive is of great value to the city. Duran emphasized that such traditions should be passed on to future generations and added that Kırkpınar is a source of pride for Edirne.