Anatolian values brought to California through Turkish festival

The four-day event, which concluded on Sunday, featured replicas of monuments from five major Turkish cities (Mardin, Van, İstanbul, Antalya and Konya). Among the historic structures on display during the event were Topkapı Palace, the Ahmet III Fountain, the ancient Aspendos Theater and the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island.

    Speaking during the festival's opening ceremony on Thursday, Hakan Tekin, Turkey's consul general in Los Angeles, congratulated the organizers, saying they had offered a great opportunity for people in America to see Turkey without having to experience jetlag.

The festival’s sponsors included the Promotion Fund of the Turkish Prime Ministry. Noting that these kinds of activities are an example of Turkey’s policy of “opening up to the world,” Tekin stated that Turkish associations in America had become more active in recent years. Upon entering the fairground, visitors walked down a path that featured archways representing Anatolian civilizations such as the Hittites, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Seljuks and the Lydians. At each archway, visitors were greeted by friendly young men and woman dressed in the traditional costumes of each civilization. There were photographs and information next to the archways in both Turkish and English.

A mini İstanbul in California

The İstanbul section welcomed guests through a door that resembled the door of Dolmabahçe Palace and featured a replica of the Maiden Tower. Behind the tower was the Bosporus and the silhouette of the Hagia Sophia and the Sultanahmet Mosque. Near a reproduction of Topkapı Palace, visitors came across people dressed in the costumes of sultans, princes and janissaries. There were also reproductions of parts of the interior of Topkapı Palace which visitors could walk around.

Upon entering the Konya section, visitors encountered a 3-D replica of the museum dedicated to Rumi, where whirling dervishes performed to Turkish Sufi music. Visitors were particularly impressed by the prayer beads, tiles and handmade crafts created by master felters. Walking through the Temple of Apollo gate, visitors entered the Antalya section, which had palm trees and real sand on the ground. The Antalya section also featured a replica of the ancient Aspendos Theater.

Mardin, the city of tolerance, welcomed guests with its famous silhouette. A model of one of the city’s famous stone homes allowed visitors the opportunity to experience a moment in Mardin. As for the Van section, it introduced visitors to the city’s iconic Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Behind the church was the silhouette of Mount Ararat. Visitors were impressed by the green and blue-eyed Van cats, which made the long journey to America for the festival.

The festival also featured groups performing folk dances from different parts of Anatolia, music by Turkish, Armenian and Greek artists and an Ottoman janissary band.

Pacifica Institute receives certificate of appreciation

The Pacifica Institute received a certificate of appreciation from Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry, US House of Representative member Loretta Sanchez, State Senator Tom Harmon and State Senator Lou Correa. Van Governor Münir Karaloğlu and Mardin Governor Hasan Duruer, who were both present at the opening ceremony, gave the organizers a plaque recognizing their contributions to the festival.

Mantı: a potential world record

The festival featured an area made to look like the Grand Bazaar that included close to 100 stands and offered all kinds of foods and desserts from Turkey. One ton of mantı, small dumplings filled with meat and served with yogurt and melted butter, was prepared by a group of volunteers over the course of three months. Festival officials claimed that the amount of mantı that was made for the festival attracted the attention of Guinness World Records officials. A Turkish coffeehouse that could accommodate up to 120 people was set up in the center of the fairground and offered tea, coffee, salep and baked goods. There were also women who were brought specially from Turkey to prepare gözleme, a handmade pastry filled with cheese, potatoes or minced meat.

Schwarzenegger extends appreciation

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a statement to the Pacifica Institute extending his appreciation to those involved in organizing the festival. The festival, which cost approximately $1.5 million, was almost twice as big as it was last year. Festival officials plan to purchase a plot of land where they can permanently display the replicas built for the fair.

80-year-old woman comes to see a mosque

Martha Manti, an 80-year old woman who visited the festival, said she was very excited to visit the Sultanahmet Mosque even though it was just a replica. Noting that she had studied the history of the Ottoman Empire, Manti said she was very interested in Turkey and that she would like to visit the country one day. The visitors also included many students from nearby schools and colleges. There were over 300 volunteers involved in setting up and preparing the festival and showing people around.

The best way to promote Turkey

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the festival, Consul General Tekin said that when he was first informed about the idea, he thought it was “too ambitious and difficult to achieve,” but noted that it turned out to be very successful. Underlining that these kinds of activities are important to introduce people to aspects of Turkey that are not well known, Tekin said: “There are still stereotypes about Turkey, especially on the West Coast. But we have received very positive responses from Americans who visited the festival last year. There were people who personally told me that they realized how different Turkey was than what they had imagined.” Tekin also noted that many Armenians in Los Angeles were very excited about Turkey’s decision to allow religious ceremonies at the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island on Sept. 12 and that many Armenians were already making reservations to visit Turkey that day.

Guests who attended the festival lauded the event. Stating that these kinds of festivals in which we share our culture, brotherhood and food are very important for world peace, Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, said the organizers recreated a wonderful authentic atmosphere and culture to share with the world.

Rev. Alexei Smith, director of ecumenical and interreligious affairs at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said the festival gave people the opportunity to learn about Turkey and to appreciate the Turkish people and culture, contributing to a better understanding.

Prince Malik Ado Ibrahim, who is originally from Nigeria, said this festival brought history to life and showed Turkey’s potential. He added that he would like to put together a similar cultural festival for Africa.

Armenian lobby surprised: We’re losing the war 

The festival, which received coverage in the American press, was discussed in a column in Asbarez, an Armenian-American daily newspaper published in Los Angeles. In an article titled “Losing the War,” Tamar Kevonian writes: “The Turks have mastered the art of diversification. Their approach has gone beyond the scholarly and political arenas into the mass market where current perception and image matter much more than historical accuracy. …We still have not managed to package ourselves in an outer layer that is appealing to our neighbors when all our outreach efforts to the masses center on the topic of our fight for Genocide recognition. It is no coincidence that the largest Turkish festival in the United States does not take place in a city with the largest Turkish community but in a part of the country with the largest Armenian community. It may be a consolation to think Armenians have them worried but in the popularity contest of public opinion, it seems we have fallen far behind and are losing the war.”