At the “Bektashism in Anatolia and the Balkans from History to the Present” forum held in Hacıbektaş district of Nevşehir, the historical development of Bektashism, its cultural impact from Anatolia to the Balkans and its transfer to future generations were discussed.
The forum, which was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency and Directorate of Communications, was held at Hacı Bektaş Veli Cultural Center. The program started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, and a short film about the Bektashi tradition was shown. The messages of Derviş Ali Kerimoski from North Macedonia, Derviş Tomasso Parlanti from Italy and Baba Eliton Pashaj from the USA, who could not attend the program, were also conveyed to the participants.
“Our work will continue to keep the culture of Bektashism alive”
Speaking at the forum, Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi President Esma Ersin said that the event was organized to evaluate the historical and cultural ties between Anatolia and the Balkans from the perspective of Bektashism. Stating that Hacı Bektaş Veli’s understanding of love, tolerance and unity has been kept alive for centuries, Ersin stated that this legacy creates an important bridge of hearts between Anatolia and the Balkans. Reminding that the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency was established in 2022, Ersin noted that the Presidency is working on the preservation of Bektashi culture and transferring it to future generations.
Stating that various academic and cultural studies have been carried out before in order to strengthen cultural ties with the Balkans, Ersin reminded that the “International Symposium on Alevism and Bektashism in the Balkans” was held at Trakya University Balkan Congress Center on 28-29 November 2024.
Referring to the Presidency’s efforts to preserve cultural heritage, Ersin said that “Hacı Bektaş Veli Velayetnamesi” was published among the prestige publications of the Presidency, and that important resources in the field of faith and culture are made available to researchers in the Kaygusuz Abdal Alevi-Bektashi Specialized Library. Stating that efforts will be continued to preserve the Bektashi culture, research it and transfer it to future generations with the right resources, Ersin drew attention to the importance of further strengthening the bonds between Anatolia and the Balkans.
The influence of Bektashism in the Balkans was discussed
At the forum held in Hacıbektaş, the spread of Bektashism from Anatolia to the Balkans, the cultural effects of Bektashi lodges in the Balkans and the role of Bektashism in Anatolia-Balkan relations were evaluated in different sessions. The forum also evaluated historical and mystical roots, cultural reflections of the Bektashi tradition in the Balkans, common memory and future vision.
