The 2nd "Historic Bedesten Shopping Days" Commence with Great Enthusiasm in Konya

The opening of the "Historic Bedesten Shopping Days," which is being held for the 2nd time this year in Konya, has taken place.

After the Friday prayer held at the Kapu Mosque, a procession accompanied by the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Janissary Band took place within the Bedesten. Following the procession, a prayer led by Konya Provincial Mufti Ali Öge and the cutting of the ribbon marked the opening of the "Historic Bedesten Shopping Days."

Speaking at the opening, the Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Uğur İbrahim Altay, mentioned that they were organizing the "Historic Bedesten Shopping Days" to preserve a tradition. Emphasizing the significance of the Bedesten area as the heart of Konya, Mayor Altay stated, "Both commercially and socially, this is one of the most important centers of Konya. Especially with the restoration efforts undertaken in recent times, we are striving to revive shopping in the Bedesten and the Türbe Önü Bazaar areas. This festival that we have organized is actually very important for Konya residents to rediscover the Bedesten, to once again experience the joy of shopping here with their children and families, and to immerse themselves in the spirit of Konya."

Not only from Konya but also from outside Konya, Mayor Altay expressed their desire for people to come for shopping. He said, "We are in the places where the footsteps of Sultan Alparslan, Hazrat Mevlana, and Şeyh Sadrettin-i Konevi can be traced. We are in the center where the tradition of Ahilik was initiated, and the revival of this place is very valuable and important for all of us. We also kindly request our shopkeepers to keep their shops open after the evening call to prayer, as is the tradition. We wish for trade to continue here until the end of the night prayer for three days. On this occasion, I invite all Konya residents and the people in the vicinity to participate in the Bedesten Shopping Festival. I believe it's important to consider this not only as an opportunity for shopping but also for getting to know and reintroducing this area."

As part of the "Historic Bedesten Shopping Days," various activities will take place, including discussions, street musicians, historical reenactments with period costumes, art demonstrations, Janissary Band concerts, the Bedesten Bazaar Photo Exhibition, and the Historical Costumes Exhibition. Additionally, during the event, forgotten professions will be reintroduced. The merchants will offer discounts of up to 30%, and the "Historic Bedesten Shopping Days" will be open for visitors from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM until Sunday, August 13th.