The Symbolic Aspects of a “Holy” Ritual in a 21st Century Muslim Turkish Village in Greece
Journal: EKLEKTIK Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
Year: 2024

This study explores the symbolic and socio-cultural dimensions of the ‘Tekke Pilavı’ (or ‘Dede’ye Pilavı’) ritual in Galini, a small Turkish-Muslim village in Greek Thrace. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the village, the study examines the historical, religious, and social meanings of the ritual, highlighting its links to Bektashi heterodox practices, Ottoman colonization strategies, and contemporary socio-economic transformations. The ritual, which involves communal food prepara