Turkish passports

Passport and visa information


Turkish passports

Afghanistan: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Albania: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain two-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Algeria: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Andorra: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Angola: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Antigua-Barbuda: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Argentina: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Armenia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain one-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Australia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Austria: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Azerbaijan: Ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa requirement for their travels to Turkey up to 30 days. Official passport holders are exempt from visa requirement for their travels up to 90 days.
Bahamas: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Bahrain: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Bangladesh: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Barbados: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Belarus: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain two-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Belgium: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Belize: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Benin: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Bhutan: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Bolivia: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 60 days.
Botswana: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Brazil: Official and ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Brunei: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Bulgaria: Diplomatic and service passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days. Ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Burkina Faso: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Burundi: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Cambodia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Cameroon: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Canada: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain three-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Cape Verde: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Central African Republic: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Chad: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Chile: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
China: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Colombia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Comoros: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Congo: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Costa Rika: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Croatia: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 60 days.
Cuba: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Czech Republic: Official and ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Cote d�Ivoire: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Denmark: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Djibouti: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Dominica: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Dominican Republic: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
East Timor: Official and ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Ecuador: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Egypt: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
El Salvador: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Equatorial Guinea: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Eritrea: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Estonia: Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days. Ordinary passport holders can obtain one-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Ethiopia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Fiji: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Finland: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
France: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Gabon: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Gambia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Georgia: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Germany: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Ghana: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Greece: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Grenada: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Guatemala: Official and ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Guinea: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Guinea-Bissau: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Guyana: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Greek Cypriot Administration: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain one-month single entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Haiti: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Honduras: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Hungary: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Iceland: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
India: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Indonesia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 60 days.
Iran: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Iraq: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Ireland: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain three-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Israel: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Italy: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Jamaica: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Japan: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Jordan: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one-month entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Kazakhstan: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Kenya: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Kiribati: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Kuwait: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Kyrgyzstan: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Laos: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Latvia: Ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa requirement for their travels up to 30 days. Diplomatic and service passport holders are exempt from visa requirement for their travels up to 90 days.
Lebanon: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Lesotho: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Liberia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Libya: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Liechtenstein: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Lithuania: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Luxemburg: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Macao Special Administration: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Macedonia: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 60 days.
Madagascar: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Malawi: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Malaysia: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Maldives: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Mali: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Malta: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates free of charge. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Mauritania: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Mauritius: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Mexico: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Moldova: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one-month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Monaco: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Mongolia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Montenegro: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Morocco: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Mozambique: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Myanmar (Burma): Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Namibia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Nauru: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Nepal: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Netherlands: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
New Zealand: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Nicaragua: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Niger: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Nigeria: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Democratic People�s Republic of Korea (North Korea): Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Norway: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Oman: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Pakistan: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Palau Republic: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Palestine: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Panama: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Papua New Guinea: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Paraguay: Official and Ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days within 6 months starting from the first entry date.
Peru: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Philippines: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Poland: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Portugal: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Qatar: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Romania: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one-month single entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 60 days.
Russian Federation: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain two month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Rwanda: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
St Christopher Nevis: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
St Lucia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
St Vincent and the Grenadines: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
San Marino: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Sao Tome and Principe: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Saudi Arabia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Senegal: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Serbia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Seychelles: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Sierra Leone: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Singapore: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Slovakia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Slovenia: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Solomon Islands: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Somalia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
South Africa: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey, But they can obtain one month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Republic of Korea (South Korea): Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Spain: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Sri Lanka: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Sudan: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Surinam: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Swaziland: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Sweden: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Switzerland: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Syria: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Taiwan: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Tajikistan: Ordinary passport holders are exempt from visa requirement for their travels to Turkey up to 30 days. Diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels to Turkey up to 90 days.
Tanzania: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Thailand: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Togo: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Tonga: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Trinidad and Tobago: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Tunisia: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa.
Turkmenistan: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa requirement for their travels to Turkey up to 30 days.
Tuvalu: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Uganda: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Ukraine: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain two month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
United Arab Emirates: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
United Kingdom: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
United States of America: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three month-multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates.
Uruguay: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Uzbekistan: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Vanuatu: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Vatican (Holy See): Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days.
Venezuela: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Vietnam: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Western Samoa: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Yemen: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Only diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 30 days.
Zaire: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Zambia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.
Zimbabwe: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey.

For latest Visa information, please visit www.mfa.gov.tr .
Explanations:

The term "official passports" covers diplomatic, service, special and official passports.

The above information is for tourists. If you are going to study or work in Turkey, you must obtain appropriate visa from Turkish diplomatic/consular missions, prior to proceeding to Turkey.

Visa regime for truck drivers of a country may differ from the overall visa regime effective for citizens of that particular country. For further information, please contact the nearest Turkish mission.

Despite the visa regime applied towards the citizens of a country, the travel document holders of that country need to obtain visa from Turkish missions beforehand.

All foreigners, except for those exempt from visa requirement, should obtain their visas at the Turkish missions. Those foreigners, who can obtain sticker type visas at the Turkish border gates, may also have their visas at the Turkish missions, alternatively.

Foreigners who will shoot a documentary film, conduct a research or an archeological excavation should get a special permission from the Turkish authorities in advance.

If you have a valid visa, you do not need a residence permit up to 90 days. On the other, foreigners who shall reside, work or study in Turkey, should register themselves at the nearest local police department upon their arrival in Turkey, regardless of the validity of their visa.
Information on Work Visa:

To work in Turkey, you must apply to the nearest Turkish mission to obtain work permit and visa. Your passport, visa application form and a letter from your employer are just needed for your application. Other documents should be submitted to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) by your employer within three working days after your application.

Applications are finalized by the MLSS within ninety days at the latest. Right after your arrival in Turkey (before starting to work), you should be registered at the local police department within one month to obtain the necessary residence permit.

Nomads (Yoruks)

Nomad tents in TurkeyThroughout the coastal region of Turkey You will come across groups of nomadic herders, the yörüks, who in the winter come down to the pastures by the coast and in the summer, when the sun shrivels the vegetation on the coast, travel up into the mountains to the yaylas, the high mountain plateaus and valleys where there is sufficient grass and fodder for the animals until the autumn rains again regenerate the pastures on the coast. In Lycia you will see a few of the traditional black goat-hair tents, usually covered in plastic sheets nowadays, of the truly nomadic yörüks, though many now have more permanent houses on the coast and in the mountains. In other parts of Turkey there are larger numbers of these nomads, who carry everything with them on donkeys and camels along with their flocks of sheep and goats. To control the large flocks of sheep and guard their property, a large breed of dog is employed and these animals can be ferocious beasts, keep well clear of them. They are usually bred in the East to take on the wolves that used to, and sometimes still do, attack the flocks, and these large dogs could successfully and will take on a wolf.

Though the life of the yörüks is becoming less nomadic in modern Turkey and they are losing many of their traditions, they still make superb kilims with patterns and colors particular to the clan and region they belong to. The dress of these nomadic herdsmen has changed and though you still see some in the black shaggy goats-hair capes, more and more have adopted western style dress. The women more traditionally wear the 'salvar', the baggy trousers and short jacket, usually in a floral material, and on their heads a scarf cleverly arranged and knotted so it looks almost like a hat.

The Yörüks are not gypsies as is sometimes suggested. Their origins are probably from the indigenous peoples of Anatolia and it is likely they were here before the Turcoman tribes migrated down from the North. They do not wander the length and breadth of Turkey, but have definite routes and areas in the lowlands and highlands bordering the coast. They are a proud people who have to some extent been left behind in rapidly modernizing Turkey and their traditional routes and rights would appear to have been overlooked as roads are cut through the country and property is snapped up by developers.

Whirling Dervishes - Mevlana

Mevlana , founder of the Dervish sectKnown to the west as Whirling Dervishes, the members of the Mevlevi Order (named for their founder Mevlana) from Konya lived in what we might call coisters or monasteries - what to them was a Mevlevihane. The one at Galata in Istanbul is a product of late Ottoman architecture, and quite elaborate in having a tomb, a large chamber for the ceremony of the whirling dance (Sema), a fountain from which water was charitably distributed to the public, a time keeper's room, cells for the dervishes, separate quarters for the Master, a section for women, a chamber of silence, a large ornate fountain for ablutions, and a laundry room.

The Mevlevi Order founded by Mevlana in Konya during the Seljuk period is made up first and foremost of tekke analogous to the monasteries of the West. The first of these tekkes is named for Mevlana and was considered as the originator of all the rest. One figure stands out in the early spread of the order: Divani Mehmet Celebi. The celebis or gentle ones who went out to break new ground and make converts saw themselves as disciples of this great master, and an astonishing number of tekkes were established during Divani Mehmet Celebi's lifetime and thanks to his efforts; in Aleppo, Egypt and Algeria, on the islands of Chios (Sakiz) and Mitilene, and of course on the Turkish mainland. The Galata Mevlevihane is among these latter.

The rituals of the Rumi's followers (Whirling Dervishes) are among the enduring as well as the most exquisite ceremonies of spirituality. The ritual whirling of the dervishes is an act of love and a drama of faith. It possesses a highly structured form within which the gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as the individual dervishes strive to achieve a state of trans. The music that accompanies the whirling from beginning to end ranges from somber to rhapsodical; its effect is intended to be mesmerizing. Chanting of poetry, rhythmic rotation, and incessant music create a synthesis which, according to the faithful, induces a feeling of soaring, of ecstasy, of mystical flight.

The Mevlevi sect belongs to the Sunni or orthodox mainstream of Islam. Its doctrine never developed a revolutionary strategy - and although it was occasionally criticized for its heretical ideas, it always enjoyed the respect of the officialdom.

Many later Ottoman Sultans, including Mehmed, the Conqueror of Istanbul, were enamored of Mevlevi ideals. The reformist Sultan Selim III was virtually a member. Suleyman, probably the greatest of the Sultans, held the Mevlevi dervishes in high esteem and their semahane (whirling hall) constructed for them as his imperial gift. The hall/mosque stands next to Rumi's mausoleum in Konya.

Besides Mevlevi dervishes, also Bektashi Order's dervishes were highly regarded by the sultans and other common people. The dances of Bektashi dervishes was called as Kirklar Sema dance, which didn't involve whirling like the Mevlana's.

The Whirling Dervishes played a vitally important part in the evolution of Ottoman high culture. From the 14th to the 20th century , their impact on classical poetry, calligraphy, and the visual arts was profound, while music was perhaps their greatest achievement. Since the dogmatists of Islam's orthodoxy opposed music as being harmful to the listener and detrimental to religious life, no sacred music or mosque music evolved except for the Mevlud, a poem in praise of the Prophet Muhammed, chanted on high occasions or as a requiem. Rumi and his followers integrated music into their rituals as an article of faith. In his verses, Rumi emphasized that music uplifts our spirit to realms above, and we hear the tunes of the Gates of Paradise. The meeting places of the dervishes, consequently, became academies of art, music, and dance. Today, the performances of The Whirling Dervishes includes twelve musicians (on traditional Turkish instruments) and 12 dancers. There is also a master of ceremony. A performance is broken into two parts with the introduction conducted by the master followed by 3 or 4 pieces of music. This is followed by a 4-part whirling ceremony.
The Ritual of Sema

Whirling DervishesThe fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve. There is no object, no being which does not revolve. The shared similarity between all created things is the revolution of the electrons, protons, and neutrons within the atoms that constitute their basic structure. From the smallest cell to the planets and the farthest stars, everything takes part in this revolving. Thus, The Semazens, the ones who whirl, participate consciously in the shared revolution of all existence.

The Sema ceremony represents a spiritual journey; the seeker's turning toward God and truth, a maturing through love, the transformation of self as a way of union with God, and the return to life as the servant of all creation.

The Semazen (with a camel's-felt hat representing a tombstone and a wide white skirt symbolizing the death shroud), upon removing his black cloth, is spiritually born to Truth. The semazens stand with their arms crossed, ready to begin their turn. In their erect posture, they represent the number one, testifying to God's unity. Each rotation takes them past the sheikh, who stands on a red sheep skin. This is the place of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi , and the sheikh is understood to be a channel for the divine grace. At the start of each of the four movements of the ceremony, the semazens bow to each other honoring the spirit within. As their arms unfold, the right hand opens to the skies in prayer, ready to receive God's beneficence. The left hand, upon which his gaze rests, is turned towards the earth in the gesture of bestowal.

Fix-footed, the semazen provides a point of contact with this Earth through which the divine blessings can flow. Turning from right to left, he embraces all creation as he chants the name of God within the heart. The Sema ritual consists of seven parts:

1. It starts with the singing of the Nat-i-Serif, a eulogy to the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), who represents love. Praising him is praising the truth of God that he and all the prophets before him brought.
2. Then follows the call of the drum and the slap of glory, calling the semazens to awaken and Be. This begins the procession known as the Sultan Veled Walk. It is the salutation of one soul to another, acknowledged by bowing.
3. Then begins the Sema ritual itself. It consists of four selams or salutes. The first selam is the birth of truth by way of knowledge. The second selam expresses the rapture of witnessing the splendor of creation. The third selam is the transformation of rapture into love; the sacrifice of mind and self to love. It represents complete submission and communion with God. The fourth selam is the semazen's coming to terms with his destiny and his return to his task in creation. In the fourth selam, the sheikh enters the circling dervishes, where he assumes the place of the sun in the center of the circling planets.
4. The Sema end with a reading from the Qur'an. The sheikh and dervishes complete their time together with the greeting of peace and then depart, accompanied by joyous music of their departure.

One of the beauties of this seven-centuries-old ritual is the way that it unifies the three fundamental components of man's nature; mind, emotion, and spirit, combining them in a practice and a worship that seeks the purification of all three in the turning towards Divine Unity. But most significantly, the enrichment of this earth and the well-being of humanity as a whole.

Nasreddin Hodja

Nasreddin HocaNasreddin Hoca was born in 1208 in Hortu village near town Sivrihisar (near Afyon) in the west part of Central Anatolia. He moved in 1237 to Aksehir town to study under notably scholars of the time as Seyid Mahmud Hayrani and Seyid Haci Ibrahim. He served as Kadi, Muslim judge, from time to time till 1284 which is the date of his death.

Nasreddin Hoca was a philosopher, wise, witty man with a good sense of humor. His stories have been told almost everywhere in the world, spread among the tribes of Turkic World and into Persian, Arabian, African and along the Silk Road to China and India cultures, later also to Europe. Of course, all these stories currently attributed to the Hoca for about 700 years haven't originated from him. Most of them are the product of collective Humor of not only Turks but also other folks in the World.

Nasreddin Hodja, or Hoca which means teacher in Turkish ("c" is pronounced in Turkish like "dj" or like "J" in "John" in English), is known as with different names in the world. Some examples; Turks say "Nasreddin Hoca;" Kazakhs, "Koja Nasreddin;" Greeks, "Hoja Nasreddin;" Azerbaijanis and Iranians, "Molla or Mulla Nasreddin;" Arabs, "Juha;" and Tajiks, "Mushfiqi". And some spellings of Nasreddin: Nasrudin, Nasr ed-din and Nasr al-din.

The year 1996 was proclaimed "Nasreddin Hoca year" by UNESCO. He is, now in 2004, 796 years old. He signed the humor of the millennium at the top.
Some of Hoca's Jokes
Cutting off the branch you are riding on

Nasreddin HodjaOne day the Hodja was up a tree cutting fire wood. Somebody passing by, noticed he was busily hacking at the very branch he was riding on.

Be careful, Hodja Effendi! he warned. It is the branch you are riding on that you are trying to cut off. Unless you stop at once, you will certainly come a cropper.

The Hodja didn't bother to answer the man. Busy-bodies were everywhere. Never doing anything useful themselves, they kept telling you what to do, or not to do. While his mind was on this train of thought, down came the Hodja together with the branch he had just managed to severe.

His opinion of the man was immediately reversed. Surely this was a man not to be trifled with. In fact, he might be the wisest man he would ever meet in his life. As soon as he got himself disentangled, he ran after the man, but he was too late, for the man had disappeared.

Probably that was just as well. Because what he had had in mind was to ask the sage to tell him exactly when he was due to die.
Miracle

Joking with Nasreddin Hodja by his friends has never ended. One day, some people of Aksehir teases by asking

-Hodja, it is said that you have an exalted position among Muslim saints. Is it real?
Of course, he had no such a claim but he replies since he was asked once;
-Probably it must be so.
-Such persons prove themselves to everybody by showing their miracles from time to time. So, since you accepted, show a miracle and lets see! asks people.
-All right, lets do a trick, says Hodja and addressing the plane tree in front of him;
-Hello great plane tree, come quickly near me!...
Of course, no tree comes or goes. Hodja walks toward the tree and stays there.
The people of Aksehir says;
-Hodja, what happened, you were unable to bring the tree but you went there! as they were laughing at him,
-We aren't haughty, says the Hodja, if a mountain doesn't walk, saint-like person walks.
Help yourself my fur coat

One day the Hodja was invited to a wedding. Having arrived in his shabby, everybody clothing nobody seemed to take any notice of him. Well, this wouldn't do. He bided his chance and slipped out unnoticed.

He returned, wearing his best robe and his fine fur coat. From the entrance on he was overwhelmed with compliments, given the best seat at the table and urged to partake of the choicest morsels. Smiling, he began to dip the sleeve of his fur coat into the dishes, saying:
- Help yourself, my fur coat!
- What are you doing, Hodja Effendi? cried the host and some guests in alarm.
- Why, I was just inviting my fur coat to partake of these delicacies, since it seems to command so much respect! A few minutes ago, without my fur coat, I wasn't even noticed. Because of it, I am now being overwhelmed with attentions!.
The missing leg

The Hodja was a poor man but not a miserly one. As a matter of fact, miserly people are never poor. Anyhow, one day the Hodja was going to visit the great Tamerlane. On second thoughts he realized how unseemly it would look for him to go empty handed. No, it wouldn't do...

He got a goose beautifully roasted, placed it in a tray and started on his way to the palace. After a while, the aroma of the roasted goose began to tell on him and, when he could bear it no longer, he broke one of it legs off and satisfied his desire.

Tamerlane when offered the gift, at once noticed that one of the legs was missing and being lame in one leg himself, he thought this must have been done on purpose to remind him of his disability. He was, of course, furious and the Hodja had never in his life been in greater danger.

-"What is the meaning of this? " roared the tyrant. "Where's the other leg of this goose?"
-"Your Majesty, all the goose in Aksehir are one-legged," replied the Hodja.
-"That's preposterous! I never heard of such nonsense!"
-"If your Majesty deigns to look out of the window, the geese near the water will vouch for me."
True enough, all these were standing about in the sun on one leg. He ordered an attendant to chase the birds away. They watched the attendant throw a large stick and then the geese running away as fast as both their legs could carry them.
-"You see, Nasreddin, you were lying. Those geese proved to have two legs a piece."
-"Those poor birds didn't prove a thing, your Majesty. If I were chased away with such a stick, I might grow two more legs myself."

Karagöz and Hacivat, a Turkish shadow play

Karagöz & Hacivat is a Turkish shadow play taking its name from its main character Karagöz. The origin of the shadow plays is accepted as southeastern part of Asia around Java. Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi says that the play was first performed at the Ottoman palaces in the late 14th century. Some others say that this play came into Anatolia after Yavuz Sultan Selim, who had conquered Egypt in 1517, had brought the shadow play artists to his court.

Karagoz and Hacivat shadow puppetsAccording to a legend, they were working as construction workers in a mosque in Bursa. Although their satiric jokes entertained other workers it also held up the building of the mosque by their constant joking together. As a result it made the sultan very angry and anxious about whether Karagoz and Hacivat could encourage rebellion in others, so they were executed. The construction of the mosque was completed without them, but their comrades did not forget them and kept their jokes alive, telling them over and over. In time, the adventures of Karagoz and Hacivat gained a new dimension and the traditional Turkish shadow puppet theatre was born. Their monumental tomb stands in Bursa today.

Karagoz & Hacivat was the most enjoyed entertainment of the Ottoman period and was widely performed for the public and in private houses between the 17th and 19th centuries especially during Ramadan, and at circumcisions, feast festivals, coffee houses and even in gardens.

Karagöz play is played depending on the talent of an artist. Moving the design on curtain, voicing them, dialects or imitations are all made by the artist. The subjects of Karagöz plays are funny elements with double meanings, exaggerations, verbal plays, and imitating accents. There is always satire and irony.

These puppets with jointed limbs are 35-40cm sized and they are generally made from the skin of camel or cows. The skins are made semi-transparent and painted with Indian ink or root paints. Then they are embroidered with sharp painted blades and the pieces are tied with ropes. This is truly an art.

The white curtain on which Karagöz is played is named as ayna (mirror), and the light behind it as sema (candle light). There is just one puppeteer, known as hayali (imaginary), assisted by an apprentice, who installs the curtain and brings the puppets in order of appearance.

The main characters of the play are of course Karagoz and Hacivat. Karagoz represents the public morals and common sense, the ordinary man in the street, and is straightforward and reliable. He is almost illiterate; usually unemployed and embarks on money earning projects that never work. He is often kind of rude. You can recognize him by his turban, his bald head and his black beard. His left arm is longer than the other one. His friend Hacivat instead is the opposite of him; he is educated in a Moslem theology school, speaks Ottoman Turkish and uses poetical and literary language. He's very clever as well.

Today a limited number of artists continue the studies related to the art of Hacivat & Karagoz and they're conducted by the Presidency of Turkey National Center of International Puppet and Shadow Play Union (UNIMA) and the Ministry of Culture.