Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Jan 30 2007

Ashura, pluralism and the creation of a new mosaic

by KERIM BALCI

Yesterday was the day of Ashura according to the Islamic calendar. In
the Shia world this was a day of mourning commemorating the murder of
Huseyin, the grandson of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed.
In the northern Sunni world of Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia and
Indonesia, this was a fasting day. Some Shiites express their
feelings by inflicting pain on themselves, flogging their backs to
the point of bleeding. Sunnis express their feelings at the esoteric
dimension: fasting of the mouth, of the tongue, of the eye.
Fasting in the Sunni world is not only about abstaining from eating,
but also about eating as a congregation. A classic meal for the day
of Ashura is a sweet dessert also called ashura. Probably an Armenian
tradition Islamicized later on, ashura is a mixture of many
ingredients that would not give the sense of a meaningful meal at
first sight. Think of de-husked wheat, chickpeas, white beans, rice,
dried apricots, dried figs, raisins, orange, rose water, walnuts,
pomegranate and sugar in the same cup of sweet! The number of
ingredients are so high that folk legend has it that Noah prepared
this pudding from the last bits of food remaining on the Ark when he
wanted to celebrate the landing of the Ark.
Ashura is a symbol of modern-day life. On December 4, 2004, the
famous Abant Platform was having its eighth meeting in Brussels at
the European Parliament. The topic of discussion was understandably
Turkey’s place in the EU. Then the discussion on Turkey’s bid to join
the EU was concentrated on the `EU’s absorbing capacity.’ Columnist
Hüseyin Gülerce was one of the speakers there and he opened his
speech with a recipe for ashura. Using the symbolism of ashura,
Gülerce told the audience that ingredients that seem to be no match
at first sight might become a delicious delight if put in the hands
of a skilful cook. `Turkey is an ingredient that is hard for the EU
to absorb, but once done, it will enrich the taste of Europe,’ said
Gülerce.
Two years since that speech and today we know that the absorption
issue is a real challenge, not only for Europe but for Turkey too.
Turkey has always been a mosaic of cultures thanks to its Ottoman
past and the central attraction of Anatolia. In the last ten years,
the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines of Turkey have become
attractions for Northern European ex-pats willing to settle down in a
warm environment. British, Russians, Germans, Dutch and Norwegians
are acquiring houses in Turkey and adding new ingredients into this
mixture of nations, this huge cup of ashura.
The cooks know that ashura is ready to be served by the white beans
in it. This is the most resistant ingredient that needs to be
integrated into the general taste of the delight. Given the perceived
historical realities of the Armenian minority in this country, they
are the white beans of our ashura in this allegory. And on this
Ashura Day, I have more faith in the potential of this nation to
become the tastiest delight of this mosaic world.