Turkish Language Day Celebrated with Cultural Unity in Karaman
Between May 9 and 13, 2025, the city of Karaman in Türkiye hosted celebrations marking the 748th anniversary of the Turkish language and commemorating Yunus Emre. The events highlighted the shared linguistic and cultural heritage of the Turkic world.
A delegation from TURKSOY, along with artists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, participated in the festivities upon the invitation of Karaman Governor Mehmet Fatih Çiçekli.
The celebration commemorated the historic decree issued 748 years ago by Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, who famously declared, “From now on, no one shall speak any language other than Turkish in the palace, court, and public gatherings.” This decree marked the beginning of Turkish being used as a state language and laid the foundation for Karaman’s symbolic status as the capital of the Turkish language.
Highlights of the program included a performance by Azerbaijan’s Shusha Music Ensemble and a symbolic parade titled “The World’s First Mobile Dictionary.” TURKSOY artists also delivered a joint stage performance.
The cultural segment of the event, held at the Lütfi Elvan Exhibition Center, featured artistic displays from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, showcasing traditional performances and cultural expressions.
