Kahrat’ta “Keşkek Kazanda Efe Meydanda” Şenliği Coşkusu

The Kahrat Beautification and Protection Association organized a gastronomy and culture festival called "Keşkek Kazanda Efe Meydanda" (Efe in the Square), organized with the support of the Tire Municipality. Tire Mayor Hayati Okuroğlu, along with CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç, attended the festival. The event began with a procession of horsemen and zeybeks marching to the village square, accompanied by drums and zurnas. Guest artist Bedia Akartürk lit the "Efe Fire." Following a moment of silence and the singing of the Turkish National Anthem, guests were served the traditional wedding dish, keşkek. The festival featured performances by the Muğla-Milas Yörük Turkmen Association, the Aliağa Şakran Women's Group, the Yaren Culture Zeybek Group, the Ödemiş İlkkurşun Efeler Association, the Ödemiş Kuvayi Milliye Association, and the winner of the "8th Traditional Küçük Menderes Searching for Efe Competition," Özgür Köroğlu, and his zeybek troupe. The event's general coordinator, Ali Haydar Öztürk, also received great acclaim with his solo zeybek performance. The program also featured musical performances by local artist Talip Çınar, retired music teacher and artist Muammer Çalışkan, and Aliağa Municipality Council Member Yaren Öztürk, originally from Kahrat. At the event, Ali Haydar Öztürk spoke about the "Hadi Gari Villager Civil Initiative Movement," while Oğuz Demir, Vice President of the International Artists Union Association, touched on the movement's artistic dimension. Kahrat Village Headman Mehmet Kuray Kuru, Tire Mayor Hayati Okuroğlu, and Republican People's Party İzmir Provincial Chairman Çağatay Güç also spoke. The USBD artists' watercolor painting exhibition (curator: Turan Engin) on the theme of 'efe' and 'zeibek' was met with great interest. At the program, flowers were presented to Bedia Akartürk, Hayati Okuroğlu, and Çağatay Güç. Certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants. The event concluded with a unanimous singing of the İzmir March.