13.05.2026 00:31
Wish papers and bags thrown into the sea on Hıdırellez night in Antalya were collected by divers to clean the sea. Among the wishes, requests for a house, a car, and health stood out.
Within the scope of Hıdırellez, celebrated every year on the night connecting May 5 to May 6 in Antalya, bags and papers containing wishes thrown into the sea were collected and cleaned by divers.
THEY LEAVE THEM IN THE SEA INSIDE WATERPROOF BAGS
During Hıdırellez, which symbolizes the arrival of spring, abundance, and fertility, citizens leave their wishes in the sea by wrapping them in waterproof bags with red ribbons or pouches. Divers, in their sea cleaning efforts, collect these wish bags along with other waste to prevent environmental pollution.
“SOMEONE EVEN THREW THEIR WISH WITH KEYS...”
Diver Hüseyin Fırat, stating that the seafloor is full of Hıdırellez wishes, said, "Hıdırellez, associated with the arrival of spring, abundance, health, and hope, is celebrated on the night connecting May 5 to May 6. Unfortunately, during our dive this weekend, we encountered wishes left from Hıdırellez. Everywhere was covered with pieces of paper; I collected as much as I could, but it seems endless. They have become mushy. We are collecting Hıdırellez wishes and cleaning the sea. The red pouches are full of wish notes. Someone even threw their wish with keys, probably wishing for a house. Almost every wish paper or pouch also contained a 1 TL coin. I collected a total of 58 TL, each being 1 TL," he said.
AMONG THE WISHES WERE REQUESTS FOR A HOUSE, CAR, MARRIAGE, GRANDCHILD, UNLIMITED MONEY, RECOVERY FROM ILLNESS, AND CHILDREN
Explaining that some bags contained wishes from multiple people, Fırat said, "From the bags I opened, 7-8 different papers came out. Many people also placed a stone inside the bag or pouch with their wishes. They aimed to prevent the wish papers from washing ashore due to waves. The wish notes were usually placed inside red pouches or tied with red string. Inked papers, coated notes, ribbons, and bags unfortunately pollute the seas. We don't want to mock anyone's beliefs. Our goal was to draw attention to sea pollution. In a 1-hour dive, we collected a total of 58 TL in coins, each 1 TL. If we want something from nature, we should do it without harming nature," he said.
Fırat, who collected bags and papers from the sea by diving around the Konyaaltı Varyant and Atatürk Park areas, stated that among the wishes were requests for a house, car, mobile phone, vacuum cleaner, marriage, grandchild, unlimited money, recovery from illness, and children.