For citizens of Ardahan, a city in Eastern Turkey, the date February 23rd carries unique significance, extending far beyond Turkey's geographical borders. This date marks not only the start of the city center's liberation celebrations but has also been officially proclaimed "World Ardahan Day" (Dünya Ardahanlılar Günü), making it a pivotal day for celebrating Ardahan's identity and culture globally.
Ardahan's Liberation: A Series of Celebrations
Ardahan's Liberation Days are not confined to a single date but comprise an extensive, regional celebration chain. Festivities begin on February 23rd with the observance of the liberation of the Ardahan city center and surrounding villages (including parts of the Göle district), and continue into the first week of March.
The official Liberation Day schedule is as follows:
February 23rd: Ardahan City Center and surrounding Villages
February 25th: Çıldır District and its Villages
March 1st: Hanak District and its Villages
March 2nd: Posof District and its Villages
March 3rd: Damal District and its Villages
September 30th: Göle District's Liberation
Excluding Göle's unique date in September, the main Liberation Days span approximately 10 to 15 days, commemorating the historical victories across Ardahan and its districts. However, the designation of February 23rd as World Ardahan Day has cemented this specific date as a global symbol for all Ardahan natives.
The Proclamation of World Ardahan Day
The movement to establish a World Ardahan Day was driven by the goal of promoting Ardahan's cultural and historical values and fostering a sense of solidarity among its people worldwide.
Year Established: The first celebrations for the day were held on February 23, 2014.
Initiator: Ardahan native and Journalist/Author Mehmet Ali Arslan spearheaded the proposal for the official declaration of the special day.
Official Acceptance: Arslan's proposal for February 23rd was accepted by the Ardahan Governorship, Ardahan Municipality, Ardahan Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the People of Ardahan.
Journalist Mehmet Ali Arslan emphasized the day's importance, stating: "World Ardahan Day is the most important symbol of the unity and solidarity of the people of Ardahan. World Ardahan Day is an important opportunity to strengthen this unity and solidarity and to promote the cultural and historical values of Ardahan."
The day serves as a crucial global festival where thousands of Ardahan natives living outside the province gather to promote the city's culture and traditions and reinforce their bonds of solidarity.
