Traditional Medicine Festival begins
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Manisa’s famous mesir paste will be distributed during the festival.
The 13th Merkezefendi Traditional Medicine Festival begins June 9 with a concert and the distribution of the famous meshire macun, a traditional remedy concocted by Ayşe Sultan in the 15th century to heal her son, Fatih Sultan Mehmed.The nine-day festival is a combination of speeches, workshops and tours with the main activities occurring at Merkezefendi. Children are particularly welcome to attend workshops that cover topics like building structures ecologically, surviving in nature, food from seeds to the table and how to look at bugs.
The festival takes place next to Merkezefendi Mosque in Zeytinburnu, just outside the city walls. Some events will be held in the Medicinal Plants Garden while speeches will be held in the Abdulbaki Pasa Library next to the mosque. To participate in the Zeytinburnu cultural tours call 444 1984 or the Festival Information Stand.
Merkezefendi is the site of a famous mystic sheikh, Merkez Efendi, who lived in the first half of the 16th century. His turban is located there, where he spent much of his life teaching.
