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CAMEL WRESTLINGS
: The camel wrestling organised traditionally in our country was
firstly made in Hıdırbeyi village, İncirliova, Aydın. Although starting date of camel wrestling is not
known, it is predicted that the wrestling organisations have been made since
caravan and nomading period. Based on the information obtained from camel owners
and wrestling fans, nomads and caravan owners had a competition and they had
camel wrestling.
Camel wrestling has been seen more in Aydın as
well as Aegean region(İzmir, Manisa, Muğla, Denizli) also many
cities, districts, towns and villages, also in Marmara region
(Balıkesir, Çanakkale),
Mediterranean Region (Burdur Isparta) and other some
provinces.
Although there are traditional rules of camel
wrestling, they differ from region to region.
However, camel wrestling does not
have a unique field and spectators. The organisations for camel wrestling are
usually held by associations dealing with activities in education, culture,
health, sports and social fields for making profits. In some regions
municipalities take part in organisations in order to discipline the wrestling and provide a certain order.
The incomes from wrestling organisation are used,
after deduction of expenses, for specified purposes. Betting and other kind of
organisations are made for camel wrestlings Camel wrestling is made between male
camels delivered upon mating of female camel with single hump called
"yoz" and male camels with double humps called "buhur".
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The
camels are for wrestling. They are born for wrestling that is their descendants
were also wrestler camels.
Wrestler camels are grown up with special care
and prepared for wrestling. The wrestling is organised during winter months
when "Tülü"s are angry, namely in
December, January, February and March.
Wrestling camel has a name. The names are given
by their owners as well as by spectators because of the actions the camels make
during wrestling. It is also seen that the names are chosen from the names of
heroes of TV serials. It will be better if some names are given. Some of the
names are Kolombo, Dozer, Şahintepesi, Gezer, Sarızeybek, Yörükali, Almanyalı,
Ceylan, Flek, Ali Tülü, Talancı, Karka kartalı, Suat, Zümrüt, Menderes, Fırat,
Takmakol, Şoför, Civan, Karamurat, Yarımdünya and so on.
The names of the camels are transcribed on the
cloth put on back of the pack-saddle. This cloth is called Peş. "Maşallah"
is written under the name.
One day before the wrestling, the camels taking
part in the wrestling are designed in a traditional way. In addition, they are
showed up in the streets. This is a worth seeing event. You hear drum and zurna
playing zeybek and the bells of the camels. The dressed up camels indicate a
different beauty. One is delighted of watching them. The city is too crowded
like a festival. There is a huge crowd in front of cafe houses. The fans of
camel wrestling are all there. Discussions about the wrestling go on. You are
attracted by the camel owners in their traditional clothes and also some fans
dressing in the same way, in caps, poşu, jacket and traditional trousers and
boots. It is also possible to see some watching video clips of former
wrestling. In the evening a friendship party called "Halı Gecesi" is held in
order to provide friendship between camel owners and wrestling lovers. People
eat, drink and sing songs of the region, play zeybek and also some auctions are
held to sell carpets. This evening party is held one day before wrestling. The
people prepare their meals one night prior to organisation date. Everybody is
very excited.
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Wrestling
Day : People start to come wrestling field early in
the morning. While some try to find a good seat at field, th others arrange the
place where they can stay with their families. Grills and meals are prepared. At
about 9.00-10.00 the wrestling field is full of wrestling lovers. In addition
street hawkers take their places out of the field. Several kinds of foods,
drinks, gifts are already placed on the counters. And drum and zurna are played.
Some people start to play zeybek.
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Then it is anounced from the speakers that the wrestling has started, and the
names of the camels announced to come into field for wrestling. The movement out
of the field now shifts to the field. Camel owners take the camels into the
field. After the camels make a tour in the field the wrestling starts. Cmel
wrestling generally starts at 9-00-10.00.
The person announcing the names of the wrestling camels (called
by
"Cazgır") praises the camels and contributes entertainment to the
wrestling through his unique praising, and poems.
Camel wrestling is made in four categories, namely ayak, Orta, Başaltı and baş.
The winners are determined by : 1.Making the rival escape, 2.cry 3.fall.
Cazgır is the most important and colourful figure of the camel wrestling as it
is in oil wrestling. He tries to narrate the camel wrestling like sports
reporters.
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In camel wrestling the followings are charged with duties: organisation
committees, referee committee(Head referee, mid referee and desk referee),
urgancı (rope keeper) in sufficient number, mouth tiers (to tie mouth of the
camels) and controller of tying mouth.
In the first one, the camel makes its rival escape from the field with its huge
body. In the second, the camel ties its rival with several tricks and games, and
the rival cannot stand this force and cries. In the third one, the winner makes
its rival fall with tricks and attacks and sits on losing rival. There is also
beating called "pes" (accepting defeat) in which the owner of the
camel accepts the defeating in order to prevent his camel encounter damage, for
this defeating the owner throws the rope into the field which means acceptance
of defeating. The camels not beating each others are equal without any winners.
Some of the names given to tricks made by camels during wrestling are: Bağ, Çengel,
Çatal, Makas, kol atması, Muşat çengel, Tam bağ, Yarım bağ, Düz çengel,
Tekçi, Kol kaldırma.
In order to increase the excitement, great care is paid for matching the camels
having different tricks. Each camel wrestles with a tülü in its class. The
camels wrestling from right are matched with the ones wrestling from the right,
and left ones with left ones, the ones hooking with the ones hooking etc. The
winner camel bring its four feet together and salutes the spectator with
boasting. As a reward it gets its carpet and leaves the field. Defeated camel
shows silence and embarrassment.
Each camel wrestles only once a day. The duration of the wrestling is about 10
to 15 minutes. The rules are set out in order to prevent reduction in number of
wrestling camels and damage of them.
All of them are carried out within a disciplinary manner and traditionally. When
wrestling is ended, the owners and the winner camels return home with proud and
happiness while spectators are delighted of having an exciting day.
The camel wrestling usually held in winter months in Aegean region has become
winter festivals of Aegean region.
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