Join us to celebrate the first edition of a new water buffalo festival highlighting the cultural and ecological role of buffalo herding and the importance of maintaining pastoralist routes in contemporary society. Participate in guided walks and workshops, as well as tasting buffalo milk dishes and musical performances together with the buffalos of Arnavutköy. The festival aims to advance ways to highlight the presence and permanence of both water buffaloes and herders in Istanbul, while preserving the historic food heritage associated with such practices. Manda Festivali is part of Cooking Sections' installation, Wallowland.

Click for directions to the festival area.

Performances by: Gülinler and musicians from the Arnavutköy Müzisyen ve Sanatçı Yetiştirme Derneği (Arnavutköy Musician and Artist Training Association)

Guided walks by: buffalo herders Cengiz Akın and Müslüm Aybaş, ornithologist İnci Şardağ, water expert Akgün İlhan, botanist Burçin Çıngay

Participate in guided walks and children workshops, as well as tasting buffalo milk dishes from local herders and producers and musical performances together with the buffalos of Arnavutköy. Manda Festivali is outdoors, so please bring comfortable clothing. There will be free shuttle service from and to the centre of Istanbul.

Click to make your shuttle reservation.

Departure: Müze Gazhane 10.30, İKSV 11.00
Return: Arnavutköy 17.00

From the surrounding villages;
Departure:
Ağaçlı: 10.00, 11.00, 13.30
Akpınar: 10.20, 11.20, 13.50
Işıklar: 10.30, 11.30, 14.00
Tayekadın: 10.45, 11.45, 14.15
Return: 13.00, 17.00

Departure:
Yeniköy: 10.20, 11.20, 13.50
Durusu: 10.30, 11.30, 14.00
Baklalı: 10.40, 11.40, 14.10
Boyalık: 10.50, 11.50, 14.20
Return: 13.30, 17.00