The market Çarşamba in Turkish means Wednesday, the day which takes place this market occupies a significant area in the Fatih district, located on the European side of the city, and one of the most conservative areas of the city, sit a greater presence of the Muslim religion, easily recognizable by the way of dressing of the female population, which dominate the scarves to cover their heads, the hijab called, completely hiding the hair and can be used in various ways, but which dominate the silky fabrics, profusely intricate and colourful patterns.
Quite popular, more here than in other Istanbul zones are pardesu, a kind of thin fabric gabardine who dresses over clothing, slightly belted or even a discreet belt, usually black, but the younger girls They wear light-colored, and does not dispense the same use of the hijab to cover her head.
The chador, a clear influence of Iran and Afghanistan, despite being situated in areas along the bazaars of the old town here is much more common, hiding the body shapes from head to toe, and which invariably black, seems to transform women in faceless shadows.
The visit to Çarşamba market culminated in the beginning of one of the most important Muslim religious festival, after the Ramadan: the Kurban Bayrami, or Feast of the Sacrifice, during which animals are sacrificed, sheep and cows, and serves as a pretext for family gathering and for a national holiday that last for four or five days, and that happens 70 days after Ramadan.
The Kurban Bayrami celebrates the courage of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael to show their faithfulness to Allah, which is very similar to a history found in the Old Testament, when God tests the loyalty of Abraham asking him to kill his son Issac.
By Çarşamba is a bit of everything: fruit, vegetables, cheeses, olives, nuts … but what stands out is the sale of clothing, bags, shoes, scarves standing out the necessary cover her head. The celebrations of Kurban Bayrami, also pass by the gift that parents make their children new shoes and clothes, which made this market day still love her lively and crowded
How to get there:
In Eminonu, near the pier of the ferryboats take bus 90 or 90B and go to Çarşamba.
