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Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival

Every year since 1640, Turkey’s best wrestlers – men and boys – gather for their national championships on a grassy field near the Ottoman capital city of Edirne.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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    A Turkish oil-wrestler gets oil on his body as he prepares for the wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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    Young wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, resting after their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, waiting their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, waiting their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    Turkish wrestlers get a shower after their match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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    Medical team carrying a injured wrestler, or Pehlivan in Turkish, during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    People watch wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Turkish oil-wrestlers boys wait for their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    People watch wrestling match while wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, walking to field during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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    A wrestler, or Pehlivan in Turkish, lying on the ground after his match next to the Turkish police while young wrestler runs during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, waiting their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    A Turkish oil-wrestler gets oil on his body as he prepares for the wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Wrestlers, or pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Wrestlers, or pehlivans in Turkish, react after their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Turkish oil-wrestlers resting after their wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Turkish Wrestlers, or pehlivans boys, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    Wrestlers, or Pehlivans in Turkish, in action during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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    A young wrestler, or Pehlivan in Turkish, cries after his wrestling match at the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    A Turkish wrestlers waitin for their match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 14 July 2018.

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    People watch wrestling match during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 02 July 2022.

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    A wrestler, or Pehlivan in Turkish, reacts after winning against his competitor during the traditional Kirkpinar Oil wrestling festival in Edirne, Turkey, 03 July 2022.

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