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The May 7th Festival was held in Besikduzu, a district of Trabzon in northern Türkiye, marking the traditional start of seasonal migration to highland pastures.
Residents gathered at Kucuk Liman beach with decorated cows, washing them in the sea as part of a local belief that the animals will stay healthy and produce plenty of milk.
After the seaside ritual, participants walked to Dogu Gozacan Culture Park, accompanied by drums and zurna, a traditional wind instrument, before performing horon, a regional Black Sea folk dance.
Besikduzu Mayor Burhan Cahit Erdem said May 7 is accepted as the date when Cepni Turks brought their animals to the sea for washing before setting off toward the highlands.
Erdem said traditional foods are prepared for the occasion and that, from this date onward, local residents begin moving up to several highland areas, especially Kadirga and Sis Dagi.
Bahriye Gundogdu, 75, said she has joined the events since childhood, recalling: "We would walk from here to the highland in one day. Our bread was on our backs, our cows were in front of us."
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