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The luncheon hosted in honor of NATO parliamentary speakers at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday, took place in one of the palace's most symbolic spaces: Muayede Salonu (the Ceremonial Hall), the grand room historically used for Ottoman ceremonies, receptions and official holiday greetings.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the luncheon with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus while the setting brought renewed attention to a hall that once stood at the center of formal palace life.
The Ceremonial Hall is located between the Mabeyn and Harem sections, two of the three main parts of Dolmabahce Palace. The term "Muayede" means ceremonial holiday greeting, or bayramlasma, a formal exchange of greetings traditionally linked to religious holidays.
The hall was used for official ceremonies, receptions and holiday gatherings. Its first ceremony was held in 1868, while the final Muayede ceremony took place in 1919.
During Qurban Bayram and Ramadan Bayram, the sultan would rest in the rooms beside the hall after holiday prayers before greeting the princes. Ministers and senior officials would be present inside the hall as the official ceremony unfolded.
The sultan would then take his place on the throne to open the formal holiday reception and greet guests. The heir to the throne stood on the sultan's right, while state officials were positioned on the left according to their rank.
The Ceremonial Hall is the largest hall in Dolmabahce Palace. It is a two-story space topped by a 36-meter-high dome, with 56 columns shaping its monumental architectural appearance.
The dome is decorated with colorful painted ornaments, floral motifs and Baroque-style compositions that reflect the palace's wider decorative character.
On the floor lies a 124-square-meter Hereke carpet, designed in line with the European taste of the palace and its period rather than a strictly traditional style.
A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling above the carpet, reinforcing the hall's ceremonial atmosphere and making it one of the most striking interiors of Dolmabahce Palace.
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