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Marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Egypt, the Turkish Embassy in Cairo hosted on Friday an expansive cultural celebration that brought the traditions of an authentic Turkish wedding to the banks of the Nile.
Organized in collaboration with the Izmir Olgunlasma Institute of Türkiye’s Ministry of National Education, the event transformed the embassy residence garden into a stage for a traditional bridal fashion show, a reenacted kina gecesi (henna night), and a Turkish music concert.
The audience included distinguished guests from Egypt, leading business figures, well-known Syrian entrepreneurs, and prominent artists such as Iman Khalil, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Karim, Rula Zeki, Ihab Fahmi and Yusra Fahmi.
Young women and artists from Gaza also attended, alongside numerous media representatives.
Fifteen bridal dresses representing various regions of Türkiye were showcased by professional models living in Egypt.
The runway offered Cairo’s guests a vivid glimpse into Anatolia’s rich wedding culture and diverse textile heritage. The evening also revived the cherished “henna night” ritual, a signature element of Turkish weddings.
Renowned TRT artist Bahadır Ozusen performed a concert accompanied by seven Turkish and three Egyptian instrumentalists. His repertoire included the celebrated Egyptian composition “Kaddok el-Meyyas (Zarif Belin),” adding a cross-cultural musical layer to the night.
Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Sen highlighted that the event had been long in preparation and was organized in response to strong public interest in Egypt.
He noted the introduction of a new donation mechanism dedicated to supporting Gaza.
All attendees contributed 5,000 Egyptian pounds via an online system directly to the Egyptian Red Crescent’s account—a gesture Sen said symbolized “not forgetting the oppressed people of Gaza.”
He underscored that, for the first time in Egypt, proceeds from a for-profit event were transferred directly to a humanitarian organization, expressing hope that the model would spread.
In a surprise segment, two traditional Turkish bridal dresses were auctioned. Buyers made their payments as direct donations to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Guests were also treated to traditional Turkish wedding dishes, completing an evening that blended culture, solidarity and cross-regional artistry.
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