30.05.2025 15:05
Young people gathered in the Terkan region of Diyarbakır are continuing a 300-year-old tradition by whipping each other. The village head, Mehmet Baran, said, "We also ask our ancestors, but they have no information about it. I do not recommend it. We want this to end now."
In the Terkan region, which connects some rural neighborhoods of the central Sur district with the districts of Dicle, Hani, and Eğil, the whip tradition that has been continuing for centuries is celebrated once a year, starting on May 15 and continuing until the end of the month in different hamlets in a festival atmosphere. Young people and their families come together to perform this ritual in a fair-like atmosphere. The young people whip each other in groups under the supervision of a referee, showcasing their strength. The referee intervenes to separate the winners or those who cannot defeat each other, preventing the event from turning into a fight.
"OUR GRANDPARENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE TRADITION COMES FROM"
Mehmet Baran, the Muhtar of the rural Doğanlı neighborhood in the Sur district, stated that the whip tradition has been passed down from their grandfathers and has been ongoing for nearly 300 years. Baran noted that the event continues intermittently in the Terkan region on May 15, saying, "Both sides face each other. There is a referee in the middle. They whip each other. When there is a problem, the referee intervenes. We also ask our grandfathers, but they have no information. The whip tradition has been ongoing for a long time. It has become traditional, and I personally do not recommend it. We also want this to come to an end."
"THOSE WHO PLAY CAN'T SLEEP FOR A WEEK"
Mehmet Kılıç, who said they came to play at the whip festival, stated, "We continue this tradition because it has been passed down from our grandfathers. In that moment of excitement and stress, you don't feel anything. Just like there are referees in football, there are 2-3 referees here as well. They are there to separate and ensure fairness. I used to play, but I don't anymore. Those who play can't sleep for a week. They have bruises and open wounds on their backs, and sometimes they bleed," he expressed.