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Every year on Nov. 10, at precisely 9:05 a.m., Türkiye pauses for one minute.
Traffic comes to a halt, pedestrians stop in their tracks, and sirens echo through cities as the country observes the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's death.
The time marks the exact moment when Ataturk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Türkiye, died at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace on Nov. 10, 1938.
Since then, 9:05 a.m. has become a symbolic moment in the country's annual calendar, bringing everyday activities to a temporary standstill.
Across major cities, drivers pull over and step out of their vehicles, while pedestrians remain motionless on sidewalks, at crossings and in public squares.
The sound of sirens signals the beginning of the observance, carrying across neighborhoods and interrupting the usual noise of the morning.
In schools, government institutions and workplaces, people also take part in the minute of silence, which forms part of the country's official commemorations.
Public transportation hubs, busy intersections and shopping districts offer particularly striking scenes as the rhythm of daily life briefly changes.
The observance extends beyond organized ceremonies, with people participating wherever they happen to be when the clock reaches 9:05 a.m.
Even passengers traveling in taxis step out of their vehicles to observe the moment of silence, joining drivers and pedestrians who pause along busy streets.
For one minute, the usual movement of city life gives way to a nationwide commemoration before people return to their daily routines.
Following the moment of silence, official commemorative programs continue at various locations, while streets and public spaces gradually return to their usual activity.
At Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace, where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died on Nov. 10, 1938, visitors gather to mark the anniversary of his death.
As the clock strikes 9:05 a.m., the exact time of his passing, a moment of silence is observed at the historic waterfront palace, one of the central locations for Türkiye's annual commemorations.
For one minute each November 10, the anniversary of a historical event becomes visible in the routines of modern Türkiye, connecting a moment from 1938 with the present day.
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