Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri (Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival) is one of the oldest and most prestigious oil wrestling tournaments in the world, held annually in Edirne, Turkey, at the end of June or beginning of July. The 662nd edition was held in 2023. This historical festival is more than just a wrestling tournament; it is an important part of Turkish culture and tradition.
History:
The origins of Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri date back to the 14th century. According to legend, Ottoman Sultan Murad II witnessed a wrestling match between pehlivans (wrestlers) while staying in the Kırkpınar location during his Rumelia campaign. Impressed by the wrestling, the sultan issued a decree for this tradition to continue. Since then, Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri has been held every year.
Location:
Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri is held at the Kırkpınar Er Meydanı (Kırkpınar Wrestling Arena) located in the Sarayiçi district of Edirne. This historic arena has been specially designed for wrestling and is equipped with stands for spectators to comfortably watch the matches.
The Wrestling:
Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri lasts for three days. The first two days are for the elimination rounds, and the finals are held on the third day. Wrestlers compete in categories determined by their weight. Each category has a first, second, and third place winner. The most prestigious category is the başpehlivan (chief wrestler) category. To become the başpehlivan, a wrestler must first win their category and then defeat the winners of the other categories in the final.
Importance of Kırkpınar:
Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri is more than just a wrestling tournament; it is an important part of Turkish culture and tradition. Various folklore shows and concerts are also organized at the festival in addition to the wrestling matches. Kırkpınar attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Turkey and abroad every year.
Participating in Kırkpınar:
To participate in Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri, wrestlers must meet certain requirements. They must be registered with the Turkish Wrestling Federation and have won a certain number of tournaments. Wrestlers must also comply with the rules of oil wrestling and behave in a sportsmanlike manner.
