Beyazıt Square on the Day of the Republic

View of Beyazıt meydanı crowded with spectators at the Cumhuriyet bayramı parade, taken from an elevated position. In the foreground, a wide area has been freed for the parade. It is empty except for a few soldiers, on foot or on horseback, who are passing in front of the waiting crowd. Further down the street, two cars are following a parade formation. In the centre background, the University Gate can be seen with a pavilion in front, also crowded. Behind are Darülfünun (İstanbul Üniversitesi) and the Beyazıt Tower topped with a large Turkish flag. An electrical street light is prominent in the lower right corner, with its bulb in front of the camera.With the exception of 1934 and 1938, when the official parade was restricted to Taksim Square, the parade in Istanbul during the twenties and thirties followed a well-established scheme: The parading soldiers and students would gather and form up in front of Darülfünun (İstanbul Üniversitesi) , thereafter starting the parade on Beyazıt meydanı at around 11 a.m. The parade would then set out to Hagia Sophia, cross Galata Bridge and finally reach Taksim Square via İstiklal Caddesi