Turkish Deputy PM to Visit Bulgaria for Eid

Politics » DIPLOMACY | August 5, 2013, Monday // 10:19
Bulgaria: Turkish Deputy PM to Visit Bulgaria for Eid Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag. Photo by Today's Zaman

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag is to visit Bulgaria from August 6 to August 8 on the occasion of major Muslim religious holiday Eid ul-Fitr (Ramazan Bayram).

Bekir Bozdag will arrive in Bulgaria through the border checkpoint Derekjoi – Malko Tarnovo and he is expected to visit the village of Ljulakovo in the Burgas district, the towns of Shumen and Silistra in northeastern Bulgaria, Pleven, Ruse and Plovdiv in south Bulgaria.

He is also expected to visit the Bulgarian towns of Kardzhali and Momchilgrad, populated with larger Muslim communities.

Each year, as a tradition, the Turkish Deputy PM visits ethnic Turkish communities during the days of Ramazan Bayram.

Last year he visited the Muslim community in Greece.

Ramazan Bayram ("Ramadan Bayram") /or Eid ul-Fitr/ marks the end of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan.

In neighboring Turkey, Ramazan Bayram , is a beloved public holiday. Schools and government offices are generally closed for the entire period of the celebrations.

Turkish people attend prayer services, put on their best clothes, often purchased just for the occasion and visit friends, relatives and neighbors. They also pay their respects to the deceased with organized visits to cemeteries. The first day of the Bayram is generally regarded as the most important, with all members of the family waking up early, and the men going to their neighborhood mosque for the special Bayram prayer.

People honor elderly citizens by kissing their right hand and placing it on one's forehead while wishing them Bayram greetings. It is also customary for young children to go around their neighborhood, door to door, and wish everyone a happy Bayram, for which they are awarded candy, chocolates, traditional sweets such as baklava and Turkish delight, or a small amount of money.

Municipalities all around the country organize fundraising events for the poor, in addition to public shows. Helping the less fortunate, ending past animosities and making up, organizing breakfasts and dinners for loved ones and putting together neighborhood celebrations are all part of the joyous occasion.

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Tags: Bulgaria, turkey, Bekir Bozdag, Muslim, religious, Ramazan Bayram, holiday, Eid ul-Fitr

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