In former times in Istanbul, events such as palace weddings, the birth of Ottoman princes and military victories, were celebrated with magnificent festivals, some of which lasted for weeks. During these festivities, various illuminations were displayed at night. Rockets and Roman candles were fired from the Seven Hills of Istanbul, painting the dark blue sky as it were with bright yellow flowers; thousands of lamps and torches were lit on the minarets and tall columns, illuminating the city as if it were daytime. In more recent times we have become accustomed to firework displays at large weddings and commemmorative celebrations. But these are pale in comparison to the illuminations of the past. In this article the richness of those festivities will be displayed with the help of miniature paintings.
ISTANBUL: CITY OF LIGHT
First of all let us take a look at the lamplit spectacles. The technique, still in use today, of stringing up lamps between the mosque minarets in the month of Ramazan is known as mahya.