07.03.2026 11:51
Drummers in Bursa, fearing the legends that say their drums have burst, "have been struck," lost their minds, and taken on different forms, are waking citizens for the pre-dawn meal by shouting "Pilava pilava" and ringing their bells in the neighborhood where the Emirsultan tomb and mosque are located.
For years, in the Emirsultan neighborhood, located next to the Emirsultan tomb in the Yıldırım district, there has been no drumming to wake citizens for sahur. According to a rumor, it is said that a person who used to drum would wake up in a cemetery in the Atıcılar neighborhood, 10 kilometers away, despite having slept in their house in the same neighborhood. Upon hearing this, drummers do not play drums in the Emirsultan neighborhood during sahur time.
"THE DRUMMER FINDS THEMSELVES IN ANOTHER DISTRICT"
Some citizens who have lived in the neighborhood for many years say, "Here, citizens are awakened for sahur by saying 'Pilaf, pilaf.' Because it is said that the sound of the drum disturbs the Emirsultan Hazretleri. According to a rumor, a person who played the drum found themselves waking up in another district after sleeping at home. According to another rumor, some had their drums burst, while others lost their sanity. As this rumor spread among the people, drummers have been afraid to play drums here for centuries. In this neighborhood, citizens are awakened for sahur by saying 'pilaf, pilaf,'" they said.
"THEY WAKE PEOPLE FOR SAHUR BY RINGING BELLS"
Youths coordinated by the neighborhood muhtarlık wake citizens for sahur by shouting "pilaf pilaf" and ringing bells one hour before the imsak time.