Healing tradition soars over Manisa as Mesir Paste Festival marks 485th year

The historic Mesir Paste Festival, rooted in a centuries-old healing tradition, saw 8 tons of herbal paste scattered over the crowds in Manisa, Türkiye. Held for the 485th time, the festival commemorates the legendary remedy created for Hafsa Sultan, the wife of Ottoman Sultan Selim I and mother of Suleiman the Magnificent.

Recognized on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the International Manisa Mesir Paste Festival continues to captivate thousands each spring with a vibrant mixture of tradition, pageantry, and community spirit.

A grand parade through the heart of Manisa

Festivities began with a lively cortege march from Cumhuriyet Square, accompanied by the stirring sounds of a traditional mehter band.

Among those participating were Governor Vahdettin Ozkan, Metropolitan Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek, Yeni Yol Group Deputy Chairman Selcuk Ozdag, AK Party deputies Mucahit Arinc and Tamer Akkal, CHP deputies Ahmet Vehbi Bakirlioglu, Bekir Basevirgen, Selma Aliye Kavaf, and IYI Party deputy Senol Sunat, alongside local residents.

Adding historical flair, actors dressed as Ottoman sultans, Hafsa Sultan, and Merkez Efendi—the physician who created the original Mesir paste—brought history to life, while folk dance groups offered dazzling performances.

The parade concluded at the iconic Sultan Mosque, leading into the highlight of the event: the traditional paste-scattering ceremony.

8 tons of healing mesir paste showered from 44 points

Following the midday call to prayer, actors portraying the Ottoman royal family greeted the crowd. A re-enactment dramatized Hafsa Sultan summoning Merkez Efendi to present the official decree for the healing paste.

In accordance with Hafsa Sultan’s centuries-old wish, 8 tons of Mesir paste were showered from 44 different points, including the mosque’s domes and minarets as well as nearby rooftops and balconies.

Participants eagerly competed to catch the colorful packets of paste, with some cleverly using umbrellas flipped upside down to gather more.

The lively ceremony also marked the culmination of the festival, which had begun on March 21 with Nevruz celebrations heralding the arrival of spring.

Legendary origins of mesir paste

The legend traces back to Hafsa Sultan falling seriously ill. Merkez Efendi, the director and physician of the Sultan Mosque’s madrasa, crafted a unique remedy by blending 41 different herbs and spices. After regaining her health, Hafsa Sultan ordered the paste to be distributed to the people, eventually leading to the tradition of scattering it from the mosque’s heights.

Today, the Mesir paste is prepared with ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, black cumin, anise, saffron, and many other healing herbs, embodying the spirit of wellness that has transcended centuries.