Mayor Aydın: “We Will Turn Our Children's Growing Hopes into Plane Trees”

The conquest festivals, which included activities in many fields from sports to culture and art, started with the Periods of Sultans Mustafa I, Osman II, Murad IV and the Bursa Symposium. Before the symposium, where valuable academicians took part as speakers, the Murad IV Period and Bursa Authors Exhibition was opened from Ali Emiri's Library. The opening of the exhibition and symposium, which attracted great attention from academics, history lovers and students, was attended by Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın, CHP Osmangazi District Chairman Cengiz Çelikten, Uludağ University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Cafer Çiftçi, Millet Manuscripts Library Director Melek Gençboyacı, former Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dündar and council members attended.

“WE WILL WORK TO MAKE EVERY DAY IN OSMANGAZI PASS WITH THE ENTHUSIASM OF CONQUER”

Speaking at the opening of the Murad IV Period and Bursa Authors Exhibition from Ali Emiri's Library, Osmangazi Mayor Erkan Aydın said, “Bursa, which was conquered with 4 years of patient siege and tolerance, showed us the bright result of the path walked patiently that day. We saw again on March 23 that Bursa is the city of patience, tolerance and justice. From now on, we will work with all our strength to ensure that every day of Osmangazi, which unquestionably and hopefully gives us authority, passes with the enthusiasm of conquest. We will work to turn the growing hopes of our youth and children into the plane tree of Bursa. The conquest of Bursa marked the expansion of the Ottoman Empire towards the west. Since then, Bursa has been a bridge from the past to the future. The lands we live in have been the scene of many wars. The most incredible changes in history took place in these lands. The world's toughest public resistance, strongest liberation struggle and biggest revolutions took place in these lands. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, whose presence we have always been honored with, changed the course of history in these lands, taking the Anatolian people behind him, and the Republic was established. The people of Anatolia paid a heavy price for this happy ending. "On this occasion, I commemorate all our martyrs and veterans who fought against the enemy, from Bursa Mobile Commander Ethem Bey to Captain Tevfik Bey, with respect, gratitude and mercy," he said.

“APRIL WILL PAST WITH THE ENTHUSIASM OF CONQUER”

Providing information about the event calendar of the conquest festivals, which will make the people of Bursa experience the joy of conquest to the fullest throughout April, Mayor Aydın said, “Today, our festivities started with the Murad IV Period and Bursa Authors Exhibition from the library of Ali Emiri, Sultans Mustafa I, Osman II, It will continue with the periods of Murad IV and the Bursa symposium. We are waiting for our fellow citizens to the morning prayer and Conquest prayer at the Grand Mosque on the morning of April 4, the day our Bursa was conquered. Our festivities will continue right after Ramadan Feast. On Saturday, April 1, we will organize an opening ceremony at Tophane Square at 2 and an enthusiastic Conquest March starting from the Saltanat Kapısı at 4. On Sunday, April 6, we will hold a village wedding where the traditions of our villages are kept alive. Our event, which starts at 13 with the bride pick-up ceremony in Armutköy, will continue with the wedding ceremony and entertainment in Dereçavuş. Our festivities will continue with the International Historical City Race and public race, which will start from the Sultanate gate at 12.00 on Sunday, April 12.30, and will end with the Rahvan Horse Race in Armutköy at 14 on Sunday, April 12.00. I invite all our people to our full conquest festival program. We invite all photography lovers to our events for shots that will immortalize the festivities. We will end the 21 Commemoration of Osman Gazi and Conquest of Bursa festivals with an award ceremony and exhibition for the owners of the photographs that will be evaluated by a professional jury. "May it be beneficial for our Bursa and Osmangazi," he said.

Millet Manuscripts Library Director Melek Gençboyacı, who gave information about the exhibition in her speech, said, "In our exhibition, we commemorate Ali Amiri Efendi, who we commemorated with various events on the 100th anniversary of his death last January and who bought the only copy in the world of Dîvânu Lugâti't-Türk and gifted it to his nation." Works written by authors from Bursa in the library, foundation charters of the Ottoman Period, maps showing the districts of Bursa, Gazzîzâde Abdüllatîf Efendi's work titled Hulâsatü'l-Vefeyât, which gives a lot of information about Bursa after the conquest of Bursa, and Evliya Çelebi's travel book, "You will see the works related to them that have reserved a place for them," he said.

Uludağ University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Cafer Çiftçi said in his speech: “As the university, we attach importance to all the events in Bursa. Indeed, these exhibitions and history symposiums about Bursa add great value to this city that has existed for 8 years. Turks have been present in these lands for many years, I would like to thank everyone who organized the event.”

Former Osmangazi Mayor Mustafa Dündar, in his speech, said, “Our Mayor Erkan will continue the Commemoration of Osman Gazi and Conquest of Bursa Festivals, which started during the term of our Mayor Recep Altepe and continued during my own term, in the best possible way. Congratulations to our President Erkan in his new position. “I wish him success,” he said.

After the speeches, Mayor Aydın visited the exhibition with the protocol members and received information about the works from Melek Gençboyacı, Director of the Millet Manuscripts Library.

Following the opening of the exhibition, the opening session of the Sultans Mustafa I, Osman II, Murad IV Periods and Bursa Symposium was held. Prof. who passed away recently. Dr. In the session held in memory of Yusuf Oğuzoğlu, the famous historian was remembered.