Children’s Day Celebrated at Balconies in Turkey Amid Covid-19 Lockdown

* Photo: Volkan Furuncu - Anadolu Agency (AA)

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This year's April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day was celebrated at homes amid novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

To celebrate the Children's Day and mark the centenary of the foundation of the Parliament, people took to their windows and balconies at 9 p.m. yesterday and sang the national anthem across the country.

While some citizens also sang other anthems and turned on and off the lights at their homes, light, laser and firework shows were held at the Parliament. The Atakule tower in Ankara was illuminated in red and white. At 9 p.m., the musical notes of the national anthem were reflected on the tower.

On this occasion, the lights of stadiums in İstanbul were also turned on and the national anthem was also played from the stadiums.

Erdoğan's 'address to the nation'

* Photo: Murat Kula - AA

Minutes before 9 p.m., President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation by making a brief speech at the Huber Mansion in İstanbul. After addressing the public, he sang the national anthem with a group of children.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), referring to April 23 as "the most important symbol of democracy and the nation's sovereignty," Erdoğan said, "When our homeland was occupied, our Grand National Assembly, which opened a century ago in Ankara, became the center of our nation's and the state's struggle for freedom."

Commemorating Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, he stated, "The Republic of Turkey was built on the concepts of unity, solidarity, fraternity and solidarity."

"The late Mehmet Akif Ersoy wrote our national anthem not with his pen, but with the rapture that came out of every part of his heart," he added.

"Our national anthem not only describes our fight for freedom a century ago, but it also expresses the spirit we need today and, in the future", Erdoğan said and marked the day "as a sign of the value the Turkish nation places on its children and their trust in the youth."

"As a nation, we see our children as our most valuable assets in the world, just like our independence, and we keep them on hand," he said.

Referring to Covid-19 as well, Erdoğan stated that Turkey struggles against it with "characteristic determination, fate and hope." "We believe that we will overcome this disaster with the permission and grace of Allah, the discretion and concentration of our esteemed nation," he added.

Concluding his remarks, Erdoğan also marked the beginning of the Muslim community's holy fasting month of Ramadan, which started in Turkey today. (EKN/SD)