Parade on the Day of the Republic on Beyazıt Square

Bird’s-eye view of crowds on Beyazıt meydanı during the official parade on Cumhuriyet bayramı. The crowd has left a free passage between the gate and the fountain. In front of the gate, precisely in the centre, a carpet is laid out on the ground. People behind are standing somewhat elevated on a platform. Cavalry are moving through the space freed by the crowd. A single horseman, between two larger cavalry units, is passing in front of the platform. The public to the right consists of uniformed men: a few on the left in the front row are wearing dress coats. The rest of the onlookers are mainly civilians, predominantly men. The clocks on either side of the gate show 11:55 a.m. In the lower right corner, a text has been added to the photograph: ‘Beyazit meydani - resmi gecit manzarasi’ (Beyazıt Square – view of the official parade).The large number of men in uniform on and around the platform indicates the importance of the relationship between the military elite and the state. The photograph was probably taken from one of the minarets of Beyazıt Mosque. 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