Fire, Water, and the Awakening of Spring: The Kakava Festival
Celebrated every year at the beginning of May in Edirne, Turkey, the Kakava and Hıdrellez festival is an ancient ritual symbolizing the arrival of spring, abundance, and the awakening of nature. As one of the most vibrant and deeply rooted traditions of Romani culture, this gathering carries a powerful collective memory shaped around fire and water into the present day.
The excitement that begins with the lighting of the great Kakava bonfire merges with the rhythm of music and dance, transforming the streets into a massive stage. The following morning before sunrise, the wishes cast into the Tunca River and the hope of people washing their faces in its waters create the purest and calmest moments of the ceremony. Through my lens, I focused on documenting not just the colourful attire and festivities, but the sheer joy of life and sense of community behind this enduring tradition. The photographs in this series are a direct reflection of the warmth of fire and the purifying power of water on human faces.
