Susak...

The 22nd Göcek Gürsu Pırnaz Highland Walk (The Migration of Göcek Yörük Nomads) attracted interest from all across Turkey. Many nature lovers and Yörük people participated. This highland migration, which has been practiced for 400 years in the western Taurus Mountains, is held every year as a nostalgic and commemorative event.

After a 10-hour hike with breaks from Karacaören Kızıldere, a neighborhood of Fethiye, we are now under the 250-year-old plane tree (which the older generation in the Fethiye region specifically calls a poplar) of the Karafilli highland. In the middle of the highland village square or hamlet, there is a spring under the rustling plane tree. Right above the spring, there is a 'susak' (a traditional water dipper). I drank the cold water to my heart's content using the susak. It reminded me of my childhood. On the way to the highlands, there would always be a susak at the fountains where the water flowed abundantly. There were susaks made of wood. There are also those made from dried gourds. I looked and saw plastic bottles next to that beautiful water, and people were drinking from plastic bottles. The water in the spring had been left aside. Water mixed with plastic is being consumed one after another. Everywhere has become plastic. Our seas, our nature, and our oceans are filled with plastics. I wonder how humanity will reverse this problem.

While talking about the word 'susak', the words 'saka' and 'sakalık' came to my mind. Those who distribute water are also called 'saka'. Coming from the Alevi culture, the 'sakalık' tradition involved distributing water at weddings and mawlid events. Words like 'susak' and 'saka' seem to be on the verge of being forgotten these days. Unfortunately, some words frequently used by the Yörük people are also being forgotten.

While I was drinking water from the susak and saying "welcome" to the arriving Yörük people, retired teacher Şerif Şimşek began to play a folk song, which caught my attention. He both wrote the lyrics and composed the music. I wanted to share it with you in my column.

The streams of Sabunlu

The 'bozular'* of the camels

It makes 20 decares of field

Bead-like eyes

Come on girl, come, come to my side

Let the nightingale land on its branch

If you love anyone other than me

May strangers enter your funeral procession

The donkey collapsed at Çağıl** descent

This is bad luck

I counted nine Şabans

The tenth is the brother-in-law

Did you reach Köklüce

Did you pick the wildflowers?

Did you reach Teke Creek

And find the oxen?

Şerif Hoca, who plays the saz as a local artist and arranges Yörük folk songs from the Teke region well, hails from Sabunlu, a neighborhood in the Dalaman district of Muğla province. The population is around 300-350. It has its own unique people. They are very hardworking.

The Göcek Yörük Migration events continue. We are conducting our event, where the love of nature and solidarity are at the forefront, in a festival atmosphere, contributing to Yörük culture and ensuring its transfer to future generations. I will provide you with detailed information about the migration next week.

*Bozular… The sound made by camels, like a donkey's braying

** Çağıl descent. A place name near Çal Mountain