Living Tradition; Camel Wrestling Festivals with Glamorous Colors

The camel wrestling, enriched by nomadic tribes living in the Taurus Mountains from the silk caravans, continues to exist in Aydın as well as throughout the Aegean.

While camels adorned with eye-catching colors going head to head,it gives a unique cultural experience to viewers.

Camel breeding and camel wrestling is an important part of Aydin’s culture. Traditional camel wrestling festivals are organized by almost all districts, it attracts great attention which start in October and end in March each year. Camel wrestling is also known as“tulle” wrestling which means male camel.

“Camel wrestling is a passion.”

Camels from Canakkale, Balıkesir, Denizli, Antalya and Izmir regions participate in camel wrestling which organized every year.Mostly the same camels are taken to these different races by their owners. Thereby, both camels and their owners recognize each other from other races. Accommodation and other needs of camel owners who come from out of town are usually met by the hosts, crafts and the public.
Camels are sold at prices ranging from 10 thousand liras to 800 thousand liras. After adding the costs of caring for camels and taking them to different locations for each race, it can be said that camel wrestling for wrestling is an expensive passion for camel owners.
The night before the wrestling is called “carpet night and there are various kinds of entertainment and food. After the entertainments of the local artists, the carpets are sold at auction and the carpets equipped with interesting figures are sold.
In the morning, people go to the racing area with a drum and zurna.The colorful clothes and jewelery on the wrestling camels are the traditional hand labor and eye light of the local people. Every time the mortar (bell) marches on the camel, the sound is heard from miles away.Camel wrestling is an entertainment, sport and cultural event that starts with the command of announcer “Unleash camels”and is not seen anywhere else in the world except Aydin and Aegean Region…While camels wrestle, people socialize with each other and announcer screams:

The Turkish Nation is nobel and carries its independence in their pocket
The Republic of Turkey will live forever
The Hero Name of Our Nation
Your Republic is 92 years old

Rest in peaceGreat ATATÜRK

Butcher Kadir Slaughtered His Knife is Bloody

He reads these manis for you

The Head Of Announcers, Ali Balli from Yenipazar, Aydin

Camel wrestling performed with drum and zurna is organized in foot, middle, second class and head categories. Colored saddles called “Havut” are declared winners among the camels fitted, which destroy their opponent during the wrestling, make it run away or shout. The owners of the winner camels are rewarded with money and carpets.
We have added the Camel Wrestling Calendar of the 2019-2020 Season for those who would like to join our invitation to this colorful and interesting tradition.

Who knows…Maybe nowadays you will go to one of the charming towns of Aydin and seeannouncer in a camel wrestling field who sings this mani:
“Allah Allah İllallah
Soldiers appeared in the square
Both of them brave
One white the other one black
God give each of them strength …”
Aydin is full of surprises and it is enough to make you happy.