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Haci Bektas Veli, The Ruler of the Pirs

2021

The 750th death anniversary of Sultan Haci Bektas-i Veli, the father of the name and inspiration of one of the most original and popular Sufi orders in Anatolia-centered Turkish geography, was included in the scope of UNESCO's commemoration ceremonies. 2021 was also the Year of Haci Bektas-i Veli in Turkey. In this context, annual visits to the commemoration of Haci Bektas Veli were made by Alevis from all over Turkey in August and September in the Hacibektas district of Nevsehir, where his grave is located. Visits were made, prayers were made, wishes were made, meals were cooked, Cem ceremonies were held. Practices and beliefs that may be considered superstitious by many people, but considered sacred by Alevis. Haci Bektas-i Veli is not only one of the most important figures that the Alevi - Bektashi communities regard as their spiritual leader, but also the father and inspiration of one of the most original and popular Sufi orders in the Anatolian-based Turkophone geography. Hacı Bektaş and many Sufi masters and dervishes who are considered to be his spiritual followers are fixtures of the narratives of the founding period of the Ottoman state, and the Sultan was accepted as the patriarch of the Janissaries. For these reasons, Haci Bektas and Bektashism have always attracted the attention of both researchers and the general public in Turkey. However, there are huge gaps and many vague and controversial points in our knowledge of the subject.

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