CIVIL ENTERPRISE & LEADERSHIP

The first "Hıdrellez Festival" held on Ahırkapı Street organized by the Armada Hotel became a popular event.  With the participation of other establishments, the Ahırkapı Hıdrellez Festival Foundation was formed and the festival became a yearly event. Attendance grew exponentially until the festival became too large to fit in the narrow streets of Ahırkapı, so the event was moved to the coastline to the Ahırkapı Park on the Sea of Marmara. There, the event evolved from being a "neighborhood celebration" to an "event of an internationally famous city" with the inclusion of decorations and "wishing trees" erected by students of the fine arts and design, the participation of the Ahırkapı Roma Orchestra, various music groups and food booths featuring all kinds of cuisine. Unfortunately, when the park could not hold the hundreds of thousands of festival-goers and the Association could no longer guarantee personal safety, it was decided to put an end to the event. But the initial goal had been reached. The spring celebration of "Hıdrellez" had been restored as a part of Istanbul’s urban culture. In recent years, all who celebrate Hıdrellez do so in small groups, including the Roma of Ahırkapı. The Association’s website about Hıdrellez is still on-line for those who miss the old event and want to reminisce over photos and videos: www.hidrellez.org.